Willmar City Council Meeting 9/8/26

The City of Willmar held a council meeting on September 8, 2026, which included extensive discussions and approvals related to various procurement and capital improvement projects. Key procurement actions included the approval of the 2027 street and other improvement projects with a budget of approximately $3.2 million, covering street reconstruction, overlays, and stormwater improvements. The council also approved design and construction engineering services for these projects, awarding the contract to Bolton and Mink. Additionally, a change order of $9,875 was approved for the public works garage roof re-roof project, funded by proceeds from a property sale and insurance. The council adopted an Emerald Ash Borer management plan to support future grant applications and accepted a downtown sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration assessment report, with plans to seek grant funding for related capital improvements. A land acquisition agreement and cooperative construction agreement with MnDOT were approved for stormwater drainage improvements, with the city assuming maintenance responsibilities. The council also approved the addition of an environmental compliance technician position in the wastewater department to bring certain services in-house, reflecting a shift from contracted services. Several special assessment hearings were set for unpaid municipal charges, and a new liquor license was approved pending police approval. The meeting included presentation and discussion of the preliminary 2027 city budget, highlighting a 1.31% increase in the operating levy and a 1.67% increase in the tax rate, with detailed breakdowns of funding sources and expenditures across city services and capital projects. Overall, the meeting focused heavily on infrastructure improvements, budget planning, and staffing adjustments to support city operations and compliance requirements.