It was a short one Wednesday, Dec. 17 when the Cottage Grove Council met in city hall.
Included in the night’s business was a lengthy consent agenda, with no presentations and open forum.
Among items in the consent agenda were meeting minutes, rental license approvals, a fee schedule, the 2026 council meeting schedule, 2026 fee table, part time firefighter, part-time, and non-rep pay plans, East Metro Training Facility Joint Power Agreement, health and dental insurance, personnel policy, state lobbying services, acceptance of a fitness equipment donation, and Hamlet Park Skate Park Rehabilitation and Peterson Park Development Project recreation grant applications to the DNR.
Included in consent as well was a City of Cottage Grove Fair Housing Policy, Metropolitan Council System Statement Appeal, Trail Connections Grant applications for the Peterson Park and Military Trail Head, Livable Communities Act Grant Agreement for the Hadley Ridge Apartments, final payment for East Point Douglas Road and Jamaica Avenue Reconstruction, Ice Arena Live Barn Agreement, ESRI Enterprise Agreement, GPS Policy, Public Works GPS Purchase, a shop remodel change order, reel grinder replacement, and sale of surplus property.
As for mentioned parks items, Hamlet Park improvements including replacing skateboard park surface and a sports lighting conversion to LED, while the Military Trailhead includes a shelter with rest area and mapping. A new Peterson Park proposed off Jamaica Avenue to honor Roger and Myra Peterson will see paved and natural trail development, with many other park projects planned for next year.
Motion to approve consent as presented was made by Council member David Clausen and seconded by Council Member David Thiede, passing unanimously with Council Member Monique Garza absent.
Following consent the council approved disbursements for Nov. 28 to Dec. 12 in the amount of $1,171,675.82, motion made by Council Member Justin Olsen seconded by Thiede.
There were no public hearings or bid awards, the council moving to approve commission and committee appointments, before council comments.
Commission and Committee appointments for 2026 were as follows among council members:
Mayor Pro Tempore: Justin Olsen
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Justin Olsen
Cottage Grove Chamber: Myron Bailey
Cottage Grove Convention and Visitor’s Bureau: Justin Olsen
East Metro Strong: David Clausen
Economic Development Authority President: Myron Bailey
Economic Development Authority Vice President: Justin Olsen
Great River Rail Commission: Monique Garza
Historic Preservation Advisory Committee: David Thiede
Holiday Train Committee: Mayor Myron Bailey
Investment Committee: David Clausen and Justin Olsen
Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission: David Thiede
Planning Commission: Justin Olsen
Public Service Commission: David Clausen
Red Rock Corridor Commission: Monique Garza
South Washington County Telecommunications Commission: Davide Thiede, with David Clausen as alternate
South Washington County Watershed District: David Clausen
Strawberry Festival Committee: David Thiede
Motion to approve committee appointments by Mayor Bailey was made by Justin Olsen and seconded by Clausen.
Before adjournment Olsen took time to recognize detective Terry Raymond, retiring after
“First and foremost I want to take time to honor one of our outstanding public safety employees here in Cottage Grove. Terry Raymond, who is one of our outstanding detectives in the Cottage Grove Police Department, has decided that Dec. 31, 2025 will be his last day working with the city. I just want to make mention of the fact that Terry’s been with use from February 2003 up through the current year. So he’s been a long term performer with the city who’s done a variety of different jobs. Not only has he been a patrol officer but he did use of force training at one time. I know he did traffic stop training as well. I actually got to observe him do that when the training was done out at the 3M track and he was very, very good at that. But I think his real source of pride and something he aspired to do for some time was forensics, specifically working with computer forensics, cell phone, electronics, those sorts of things. Terry really specialized in an relentless pursuit of justice and advocacy. That was really his passion and remains his passion, working on cyber crimes. So again I just want to honor Terry and say thank you for being a long term guardian of our community. We very much appreciate your service to all of the residents of Cottage Grove and South Washington County and we wish you well in retirement.”
Also brought up by Olsen was how the holiday season can be hard on people.
“I just want to ask people at home to keep an eye out for your friends and family members,” he said of those who struggle during the holidays. “Let’s try to help those around us and help them understand they’ve got friends, they’ve got family members who care about them. And for those who maybe feel there’s nowhere to turn, there’s always somewhere to turn. And if you’re really feeling down there’s a 24/7/365 hotline staffed by mental health professionals that you can call any time of the year. That number is 1-866-903-3787 and that is a national mental health hotline…Don’t feel like your’e alone. Please reach out. Help is available.”
Thiede meanwhile shared that the Holiday Train visit had been recorded by True Lens Media and was viewable online, also sharing that the next Strawberry Fest meeting is Jan. 6 at Carbone’s for those wishing to attend. Thiede closed his remarks with holiday well wishes.
“I just want to wish everyone a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and prosperous New Year,” he said.
The Cottage Grove City Council meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in city hall. The public is invited to attend.