City Council Highlights – January 9, 2023

Monticello, meet your City Council! Mayor Lloyd Hilgart (center), L to R - Councilmembers Charlotte Gabler, Sam Murdoff, Lee Martie, and Tracy Hinz.

The Oath of Office was administered at first City Council meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.

• Mayor Lloyd Hilgart will serve another 2-year term (term expires 12/31/2024).
• Councilmember Charlotte Gabler will serve another 4-year term (term expires 12/31/2026).
• Councilmember Tracy Hinz will serve a 4-year term (term expires 12/31/2026).
• Councilmember Lee Martie was sworn in on Nov. 28, 2022 to fill the seat vacated by Councilmember Jim Davidson. He will serve the remainder of Jim Davidson’s 4-year term (term expires 12/31/2024).
• Councilmember Sam Murdoff is currently serving his 4-year term (term expires 12/31/2024).

Join us in welcoming them to the Monticello City Council!

Understanding Radon

Wright County Public Health gave an update on Radon. Radon is a colorless and odorless gas found in the soil and common throughout Minnesota. Because soil is porous, radon moves up from the soil and into the home. The gas can accumulate in the air we breathe becoming a health concern. Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and two in five Minnesota homes have high radon levels. 

The MN Department of Health recommends all Minnesotans test their home for radon. You can test your home yourself. Start with a short-term test. Your local health department or government agency may offer test kits at reduced prices. You can also order a short-term radon test kit at mn.radon.com.

If the radon is high, hire a licensed radon professional to install a radon mitigation system. Licensed radon professionals are on MDH’s website at mn.gov/radonpro.

You can find more information on radon, including ordering a radon test kit and how to understand your radon test result, at mn.gov/radon.

DMV Annual Update

 Manager Carolyn Granger gave an annual update for the Monticello DMV. Some highlights included the staff’s dedication to serving customers efficiently and well. Granger noted, “DMV is a connection between the customers and the state of Minnesota, there are things we can do in a matter of minutes that would take customers significantly longer.”

Granger also wanted to remind residents that by renewing their registration locally, it puts money back into their community, whereas if you do it online, the state gets their filing fee.

The Monticello DMV offers a variety of services ranging from hunting and fishing licenses, vehicle registration renewals, special plates, and for just $3, they offer a notary service, which has been an increasingly popular service.

The Monticello DMV is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. And Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

 Hi-Way Liquors Annual Update

 Manager Randall Johnsen gave the annual update for Hi-Way Liquors. As the City’s municipal liquor store, Johnsen highlighted that they, “pour all their profits back into the community.” Just last year, they gave one million dollars to the City of Monticello for various projects and improvements throughout our community.

 Hi-Way Liquors had another successful year. According to the Minnesota Office of the State Auditor’s 2021 Report on municipal liquor sales, Monticello ranked 15^th in total sales out of all 177 municipal liquor stores in the State of Minnesota. They were also 3^rd in off-sale single location municipalities, and 33^rd out of 177 in their overall net profit.

 If you stop by Hi-Way Liquors, you may see some new faces this year. The department now has seven full-time staff members and 13 part-time. Johnsen noted they unexpectedly had to add some new staff members this year for better coverage during the store’s hours of service. Johnsen noted the addition has been immensely helpful in keeping the doors open to serve customers during regular operating hours.

 Hi-Way Liquors is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

August 2022 Construction Updates

There are several projects and improvements being made throughout the City. Here are a few updates and changes happening in Monticello this month!

Street and Sidewalk Improvements Project

The contractor has been working on replacing sections of curb and sidewalk ramps, throughout the Street and Sidewalk Improvements project areas. The contractor began paving the roads on August 4, 2022 and is scheduled to wrap up this week. No on-street parking will be available during the days of milling and paving, please follow the signs posted in the areas of the project.

The contractor is also starting on the removals for the sidewalk sections of the project and installing the new sidewalk once grading is complete. The sidewalk on Walnut & 4^th Street around the Cargill Campus will begin next week.

7^th Street East Pavement Overlay Project

The 7^th Street East pavement overlay project is scheduled to begin this week, August 10 and 11.

Weather permitting, the schedule for the project is as follows: the east bound lane will be closed on Wednesday, August 10 and the westbound lane will be closed Thursday, August 11.

There will be signage, barricades, and cones throughout the project. Please follow the posted signs and use caution when driving through construction zones. The detour will be Cedar to 4^th Street to Washington and vice versa. The project is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the week. 

Monticello Library Roof Improvements

The replacement of the library roof began last week (Aug. 1, 2022)! The book drive on the south side and parking spots on the east side of the building have been closed off for construction vehicles and materials.

The Monticello Farmers Market and the Library will remain open. Construction is expected to last about 2 weeks.

Downtown Monticello Improvements and Projects

The City of Monticello is preparing for the reconstruction of a portion of Walnut and River Streets in downtown Monticello, known as the Downtown Roadway and Pedestrian Improvements Project.

Additionally, a private developer is also completing site preparation at the northwest corner of Pine Street (Highway 25) and Broadway (County Road 39) as part of a new mixed-use project on that corner. Work on these two projects is expected to begin in August and continue through 2023. The intent is to coordinate these two projects (the private redevelopment and the public infrastructure) so the outcome is well integrated and construction disruption is minimized.

Over the coming weeks, there will be several contractors on the site completing various components of these projects. The City has contracted with Bolton & Menk to complete a downtown parking study and traffic study. You may also notice some more movement around the EDA-owned building on Block 52. The developer will be starting to do environmental assessments this week.

Xcel Energy has started to relocate their lines surrounding Block 52, once the new lines are installed and operational, they will start to remove overhead lines on a portion of the Block 52 redevelopment area. Other utility companies are working with the City on their relocation plans, but do not have set dates yet.

Visit us at Music on the Mississippi, August 17 at West Bridge Park to learn more about the Downtown Roadway and Pedestrian Improvements Project and talk with project staff.

MCC’s Guest Services Desk Improvements

The Monticello Community Center’s Guest Services desk is getting a new look and some new tech! The old counters and cupboards will be removed, and the menu boards will be replaced with digital display options. This will make it easier for staff to make menu edits and price changes. We can't wait to serve you our new fresh menu items when our remodel is complete!

Council Approves Block 52 Development Agreement

Downtown Monticello is the heart of the community. Ongoing efforts to support and enhance the area are guided by our Downtown Small Area Plan. The Plan focuses on a mix of existing and new spaces, creating a vibrant area year-round.

 A signature element of the adopted Plan is redevelopment of Block 52 at the corner of Broadway and TH25. This year the City has been working with a developer on a potential project encompassing a significant part of the block.

 At the regular meeting on July 11, 2022, the City Council approved the Final Plat and Development Agreement, Final Stage PUD, and rezoning. This was the final step in the land use approval process for the project and a critical milestone toward bringing the project to life.

With project approvals in place, the developers, Economic Development Authority (EDA), and staff will continue to work towards finalizing a financing assistance package followed by site preparation steps, and other tasks that need to be completed prior to construction. We will continue to provide updates as the project progresses, and you can find additional information on our website.