At the August 11 regular meeting of the Houston City Council, the council authorized City Administrator Michelle Quinn to work with representatives from the state and county to seek state disaster public assistance for the tree damage that occurred in the July 29 storm. Quinn expects the damage to easily exceed the $4,000 minimum.
Not only did Houston have significant tree loss, the west side of the bandshell roof sustained damage as well. It has been repaired temporarily and a claim has been filed with insurance. The shingles originally used on the building are no longer available. Another bid has been requested for reshingling the building with interlocking shingles like the ones on the Nature Center; those shingles appear to hold up better. Quinn explained the insurance company will pay for whichever shingles are less expensive, but the city could opt to pay the remainder if they choose the other option.
Quinn asked that the council authorize a deviation from the ordinance regarding stump removal to allow the city to coordinate stump removal for boulevard trees removed as a result of the storm. Usually stump removal is totally on the home owner. If the city is awarded funding, the expense would be shared 50-50. Quinn cautioned residents not to do the stump removal at this time on their own, expecting to be repaid for the expense. Stump removal has to be a city project to qualify for state funding. The 50-50 funding would only pertain to condemned boulevard trees and nothing else.
Quinn noted that a comprehensive list has been made of trees damaged by the storm and urged residents to be patient and wait to see if funding becomes available.
The council approved Quinn’s request to budget money to the tree board so funds will be available to help purchase replacement trees. Residents could then apply for grants to replace trees lost on the boulevard. Quinn pointed out that this might help the city to regain status as a Tree City USA.
Other Building Repairs
The flat-roofed city hall has been leaking. Winona Heating and Ventilation was contacted and McCabe Roofing examined the roof Friday. McCabe recommended replacing the roof including a ½” plywood layer to stabilize it. Bids for the project are being solicited from both Winona Heating and Ventilating and McCabe Roofing.
The overhead doors on the fire department building are deteriorating and allowing water to saturate the panels; this results in the doors being heavy and difficult to manually open. Replacing the door deteriorated panels would cost $3,000 according to Overhead Door Company.
Originally, Fire Chief Skifton intended to request the replacement, but changed his mind and suggested waiting before repairing the doors. He mentioned adding drain holes to the panels as needed and suggested getting another bid as well. The council agreed and decided to wait on replacement at this time.
Cedar Street Improvements
Matt Mohs of Bolton & Menk attended the meeting to update the council on the upcoming Cedar Street project. Mohs met with staff and MnDOT to discuss the project recently. The project is scheduled to go out for bids in 2030 with construction to begin in 2031.
The west end from Poppe Road to Washington Street and the east end from Henderson Street to the twin box culverts will have several inches milled and a new overlay. Full reconstruction will be done between Henderson and Washington Streets.
MnDOT will solicit private consultants to do the engineering of the project in late fall 2025. Mohs shared that Bolton & Menk wanted to submit a proposal to MnDOT for engineering services. The company would continue to serve as Houston’s city engineer as well. Mohs asked if the council would be okay with the company also working for MnDOT.
Danny Todd commented that he felt it would be “better all around” to have the state dealing with Mohs rather than another company.
Zeb Baumann asked how this would change the relationship between the city and Bolton & Menk. Mohs assured him that there would be no change; Mohs would continue to work with the city and another employee would be leading the project if the company got the bid.
Council consensus was that it was to the city’s benefit to agree with this. Quinn agreed, “The benefits appear to outweigh the drawbacks.”
Other business
In other business the council:
- Approved purchase of a $2,799 piece of equipment to be used for opening and closing hydrants and close valves if needed;
- Designated Tanner Young of CMS as the city’s certified building official;
- Moved firefighter Colin Olson from probationary to active status.
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