The Cottage Grove Public Service Commission heard updates on major city construction and the fire department’s 2025 activity before closing with discussion of the city’s new e-bike ordinance at their meeting May 18 in the St. Croix Room at city hall.
City Engineer Paul Sponholz shared and update on the 2026 construction season as already underway, led by the 80th Street Rehabilitation project. The joint project with MnDOT and Washington County includes reconstruction of the Highway 61 and 10 interchange ramps, pavement replacement, traffic signal improvements, lane reconfiguration, landscaping and a turn lane for Park High School.
Sponholz said eastbound traffic will remain open, while westbound traffic is being detoured through much of the summer. Ramp closures are expected after Memorial Day, with the north ramps closing first for about 10 weeks before work shifts to the south ramps. The goal is to complete the project in one construction season and reopen traffic by October.
Other work includes mill and overlay projects on 95th Street from Hadley to Jamaica, Ideal Avenue and streets in the Hinton Heights and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods near Park Grove Library. Sponholz also reviewed pavement work in Thompson Grove Estates and a Washington County-led roundabout project at 80th Street and Keats Avenue, which will require bypass lanes as it is built this summer to improve traffic flow.
Looking ahead meanwhile, Sponholz said the city continues design work on the realignment of 100th Street and County Road 19, also known as Innovation Road. The $47 million project recently received $9.6 million in state bonding, which he said will help move the project toward construction in 2027.
Cottage Grove Deputy Fire Chief Nick Arrigoni then presented the fire department’s 2025 annual report, highlighting growth in calls, training and specialized response. Arrigoni said firefighters responded to 5,315 calls in 2025 while completing 8,745 hours of training and earning 49 new certifications. Average response time was shared as just over six minutes for EMS calls and just under six and a half minutes for fire calls. Arrigoni said those response times remain among the strongest in the metro area.
The department also expanded community paramedic services, completing 46 visits, and continued its public outreach with at least 67 community events. Arrigoni said the department is emphasizing “community partnerships” and more meaningful public education during events.
Major accomplishments included launching a five-year strategic plan, improving the department’s ISO rating from four to three, developing a peer support network, implementing a fire cadet program and building out special operations training in areas such as water rescue, swift water response, hazardous materials and technical rescue.
Arrigoni said a standards of cover study found more than 40 percent of calls overlap, meaning crews are often responding to multiple incidents at once. The department is preparing to seek a federal SAFER grant that could help add firefighters and bring staffing to eight per shift.
Council delegate David Clausen closed the meeting with remarks thanking the commission for its work on the city’s new e-bike ordinance. Commission Chair Lisa Kons said Cottage Grove’s ordinance is already being used as a resource by other communities.
“Cottage Grove really stuck their neck out first and really moved fast,” Kane said. “I commend you for getting this through and working so quickly.”