I just wanted to take a minute to make sure people know it’s not just a park, it’s a memorial.”

Justin Olsen, Cottage Grove Council Member

The Cottage Grove City Council met Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the St Croix room at City hall.
On the night’s agenda were several items, including an award, park approval, and several items related to a second Kwik Trip location on Manning Avenue at Highway 61.
Opening Wednedsay with a video presentation, City Planner Max Erickson shared that Jake Jones of Medicine Wood LLC, had been nominated as the 2026 Historic Preservationist of the Year.
Erickson shared that Jones had been nominated by the Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation for his work conserving, repairing and restoring historic structures using original materials and methods. Jones is currently working on preservation efforts at the Cottage Grove Old Town Hall and the John P. Furber House, both listed in the city’s historic register.
“Preservation is never fast. It’s a very delicate process,” Jones shared in a video by True Lens Media for the event. “We approach it like it’s a piece of fine art.”
With a family connection to the area that dates back 160 years, Jones said his company focuses on restoring historic structures, including homes, libraries and other buildings generally built before 1940. He said restoring historic windows is a major part of the work and helps preserve architectural character.
“That’s part of what is so enticing about preservation, is kind of the old house CSI, you uncover as you go,” he said.
Prompted by Mayor Myron Bailey, Jones shared recent work at the Old Town Hall had uncovered pencil marks beneath layers of paint, including names like that of George Woodward, tied to Cottage Grove history and dating from the late 1800s. Jones said old advertisements also remain preserved beneath paint layers, offering more clues to the building’s past.
"I'd even consider clearcoating it," Jones said of preserving the find as he restores the old town hall in Cottage Grove.
Following the award presentation to Jones, the council proclaimed May 2026 as Historic Preservation Month.
Council Member Dave Thiede read the proclamation, which recognized the many individuals, families and groups who have shaped Cottage Grove’s history and expressed gratitude for those who gather, interpret and share the community’s stories. The proclamation passed unanimously.
The council meanwhile also approved a cost participation agreement for trail improvements at Nina’s Park in consent, located behind Park High School on Ideal Avenue. Council Member Justin Olsen pulled the item for comment.
“I just wanted to take a minute to make sure people know it’s not just a park, it’s a memorial,” he said.
Olsen shared that the park is named for Christina “Nina” Westmoreland, a former Cottage Grove royalty princess who was killed by a drunk driver while on a family vacation at Disneyland in Florida. Olsen said her memory continues through family, the Cottage Grove Ambassadors and the park itself.
“I just hope people will never forget that this park is a legacy," Olsen said. "I’m very personally grateful.
Bailey chimed in as well, saying that the city and school district are working together to update and maintain the trail where it extends onto school district property.
Also from Wednesday council, members held a public hearing on conduit bond refinancing on a senior housing facility at 8200 Hadley Avenue.
“It’s important to note that the city would have no financial responsibility,” bond presenter Rhonda Skoby of Taft Law told the council.
Scoby said the facility is operated by Presbyterian Homes and its affiliates and was originally financed in 2017 through conduit bonds issued by St. Paul Park. She said Cottage Grove’s approval was required because the project is located in Cottage Grove, but the bonds will be issued by St. Paul Park.
The conduit bonds do not count against Cottage Grove’s debt limit or affect the city’s credit rating, Skoby said. The council approved Resolution 2026-076 to facilitate the bonds.
Also Monday meanwhile, the council awarded the 2026 Denzer Park project to Benson Excavating LLC of River Falls, Wisconsin, with a low bid of $283,882.15.
City Engineer Paul Sponholz said the park will be located on Hadley Avenue, south of Hunter Street and near Preserve at Prairie Dunes. Work on the park includes final grading and excavation, installation of a stormwater culvert, trail paving, concrete sidewalks, sport court construction and concrete pads for amenities such as grills, benches and trash cans.
Bailey said the park is named after former Mayor Jack Denzer and his wife, Marlys.
Following plan approval for Denzer Park meanwhile, council members approved several items for a proposed Kwik Trip convenience store at Manning Avenue and Highway 61, including preliminary and final plats, a conditional use permit and site plan review.
Senior Planner Samantha Pierret said the property is owned by Kwik Trip, was previously used as cropland and is zoned B-3 Highway General Business District. The development will use about 10 acres of a 30-acre site and include regular and diesel fuel canopies.
Access will come from a single driveway on Manning Avenue, subject to MnDOT review and approval, with turn lanes installed by the applicant. Because the property is outside the Metropolitan Urban Service Area, it will use its own well and septic system, requiring approvals from the Minnesota Department of Health and Washington County.
“About 10 years ago, Mayor Bailey said it’s about time you get a Kwik Trip in Cottage Grove, and now here we are approving the second one,” Kwik Trip Vice President Scott Tiegen said.
Tiegen said a Kwik Trip off 95th Avenue is scheduled for 2026, while the Manning Avenue location is scheduled for 2027. The council approved all three Kwik Trip resolutions unanimously.
Speaking later during council updates, Council Member Justin Olsen invited the public to attend the city’s annual Memorial Day event at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25 at Cottage Grove City Hall, near the Veterans Memorial. Olsen said the event was organized by the Mississippi River Valley Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network and will include speakers, music from the Park High School band and resources for military members, veterans and their families. Olsen also noted that May 17-23 was Public Works Week and thanked Cottage Grove public works and parks staff for their work maintaining city streets, parks and infrastructure.
Council Member Dave Thiede largely used his update to remind residents that Cottage Grove Strawberry Fest is just weeks away, with the annual festival in Kingston Park starting Thursday, June 18 and running through Sunday. Thiede said the theme for Strawberry Fest 2026 was “Pure Imagination,” highlighting the parade and a planned drone show.
“It’s going to be great weather, it’s going to be a great time,” Thiede said.
Council Member Monique Garza used her update to encourage residents to attend the Hmong Memorial Sports Fest and Street Fair at Kingston Park May 23, describing it as a two-day, family-friendly event with food trucks and sporting events.
Mayor Myron Bailey closed the meeeting by thanking Marathon for a $5,000 donation toward Cottage Grove police coverage for the Hmong Memorial Sports Fest and Street Fair.
Bailey also said the city received notice that the state bonding bill includes $9.6 million for the 100th Street and County Road 19 project, helping move the more than $42 million project toward construction in 2027. He said the road extension to Highway 61 is expected to reduce congestion near the Jamaica Avenue roundabouts and open new development opportunities. He thanked Representative Wayne Johnson and Senator Judy Seeberger for helping get the measure through, as well as Senator Matt Klein.
“Of these two are republicans and one is a democrat,” Bailey said, something he found refreshing as it sometimes seemed there was no communication.
Bailey also reported that city officials had just returned from the ICSC convention, where they met with restaurants, retailers, business investors and developers.
“By the end of the day we had walked about eight miles,” he said, with introductions made to restaurants and retailers and followup by Economic Development Manager Nate Carlson.
Following the May 20 council meeting closed workshop was held pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05.3c to develop offers for property acquisition at PID number 2902721220004. The parcel is located just north of Grey Cloud Dunes SNA and in the area identified for Denzer Park.

Cottage Grove Council meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in city hall. The public is welcome to attend.