City Council Meeting - 10/5/2026

At the October 5, 2026, Watertown City Council meeting, the council approved a change order with Helme Incorporated for the Kelvin Park lift station and force main project, reducing the contract by $1,835.85, to approximately $1.6 million. The agenda description gives a different decrease amount ($11,835), while the engineer stated $1,835.85. The council also approved plats and development agreements for Kelvin Industrial Park, including required infrastructure improvements, and Harmony Hill Fourth Edition, a 40-lot residential development. A resolution to assess Fifth Avenue property owners for sidewalk costs failed; council members voted against the assessment. The city engineer discussed punch-list work and residents’ concerns about construction damage and driveway repairs.

The city manager said a petroleum bid award was on the consent agenda but provided no vendor or award amount, and noted that staff may explore a state contract if fuel pricing is not acceptable. The council manager also plans to convene council members to review proposals for the wastewater treatment plant. Prairie Pro provided a construction and schedule update on the AirStay Hotel project; staff reported ongoing coordination with local subcontractors and continued street closures, but no new contract action was taken. The council heard that 2027 budget materials will come in November. Ordinance amendments also shift licensing approvals for commercial garbage haulers, hauled-wastewater contractors, and gas fitters to city staff, streamlining routine approvals.