South St. Paul city council reflects on progress;
sets goals for 2025

South St. Paul city council reflects on progress; sets goals for 2025
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | June 2025

Progress on the Hardman Triangle superblock, growth in the South Metro Fire Department, upgrades to city water treatment systems, and the future of the city’s aquatics facilities and old city library building were among the topics addressed during the annual state of the city address in late April. The South St. Paul City Council used the meeting to reflect on accomplishments of 2024 and offer a sneak peek at what’s in store for this year. Highlights include:

Public safety
The South St. Paul Police department will soon launch a new transparency and data website, allowing residents to view real-time crime data, maps and summaries. According to Police Chief Brian Wicke, this is being made so residents can accurately know where crimes occur and what’s being done to address crime, rather than rely on misleading information that sometimes appears on social media.

The department brought on Riley, a therapy K9, to help support police officers’ mental health and engage with the community. It also used federal and state grant money to purchase ballistic vests, license plate reader technology and establish a training and development program for new officers. Notably, Sgt. Michael Dahl and officer Aaron Schmidt have been named grand marshals of the upcoming Kaposia Days parade on June 27. The two recently saved a woman from an early morning home fire moments before it became fully engulfed. The woman later said she had lost hope and resigned herself to death.

Last year, South Metro Fire responded to more incidents than ever before: 8,114. Fittingly, it recently replaced its nearly 30-year-old ladder truck and received a grant to hire more firefighters. This will allow a third ambulance to operate 24/7. The department also completed its first-ever formal strategic plan, which will guide future facility upgrades and help ensure that desired response times for emergency vehicles are met. It also started a new training program in partnership with Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville that allows new firefighters to complete live fire exercises.

Sadly, Halligan (“Hal”), one of South Metro’s service dogs, unexpectedly passed away in December after just one year with the department. A new dog named Finnegan is now on board. He joins Hal’s brother Riley in helping first responders cope with their high stress responsibilities.

Engineering
In 2024, 7th Avenue South from I-494 to South Street was completely reconstructed. The project included replacing the watermain, and it came in on time and under budget. Concord Exchange from Grand Avenue to 6th Street was also reconstructed, including streetscape improvements to sidewalks, lighting and more. Fleming Field also had a taxiway reconstruced and an aging beacon system replaced.

This year, Marie Avenue will be reconstructed from 3rd Avenue to 9th Avenue, using a $1 million Safe Route to School grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to help cover costs; the segment from 9th Avenue to 21st Avenue is in the works for next year. Fourth Street South will also see major rehabilitation work between 1st Avenue South and 9th Avenue South beginning in June. Additionally, the public works department will overlay 1st Avenue South this year. The department recently obtained a new tanker truck, three single-axel dump trucks, a 1-ton dump truck and three pickup trucks, all of which are expected to last for at least a decade. The department is also partnering with Parks and Rec to get an employee certified in playground inspection and maintenance.

The new Wakota Scenic Trailhead was unveiled last summer after more than a year of work. The facility includes a restrooom, bike fix-it station, picnic areas and connection to the Mississippi River Greenway. It is within walking distance of the city’s community gardens and the DNR boat launch. Trail and habitat improvements were also made around Siedl’s Lake.

The City is working to address contaminants in its drinking water supply. At the end of May it wrapped up a $8.5 million project to upgrade the water treatment plant at Well #3, which had radium levels exceeding state standards. State funding has also been secured to address PFAS contamination at Well #4, and to replace lead water service lines across the city in the coming years. Officials say the city’s drinking water is safe and there is no need to take other precautions.

Economic development
Helping residents and business owners invest in their properties continues to be a priority. Ordinances were passed last year to make it easier for people to make additions to single family homes and allow businesses to offer outdoor dining and install signage. Two businesses and five homeowners made use of the Economic Development Authority’s low-interest loan program to make improvements, and 12 seniors used the zero-interest senior loan program.

The 111-unit Backyards apartment complex was completed and an 18-month project at the John Carrol High Rise wrapped up. The latter included replacing the building’s plumbing system, installing new kitchens and bathrooms in all 165 apartments, and addressing asbestos, lead and radon. Energy efficiency upgrades at John Carroll and the neighboring Nan McKay High Rise are now being discussed.

The city is expected to complete the South Concord Corridor Study this year to guide future land use along South Concord, south of I-494 and east to the river.

Substantial progress has also been made to prepare the Hardman Triangle superblock for dramatic development in the coming years, including demolishing the Twin City Pallet Company building, acquiring the Fresh Meats building and formally parceling the 5.6-acre site located at the northeast corner of Grand Avenue East and Concord Street North. The city entered into a preliminary development agreement with Zavi Development for the site’s redevelopment in late 2024, and a conceptual master plan was adopted in March. It calls for 200 units of market-rate apartments, a restaurant, green space and at least one destination business, such as an indoor pickleball center. Pre-development work for the destination and restaurant sites is underway and construction could begin as soon as the end of the year. Site work for the first phase residential building is anticipated to happen late this year or early next year.

Last year, another developer backed out of plans to redevelop the 4-acre property at the southwest corner of Armour Avenue and Hardman Avenue North, home to the 117-year-old Armour Gate structures. However, city staff anticipate at least one more development proposal will be presented to the EDA for consideration this summer. Meanwhile, staff are exploring the possibility of relocating the historic structures elsewhere in the city, with a strong favorite being Kaposia Landing.

New History, the city’s consultant for the reuse of the former South St. Paul city library building, is expected to present its final recommendation in late May. Details will be reported in the July issue of the South St. Paul Voice.

Parks and Rec
The City completed its new Parks Master Plan at the end of 2024, laying out improvements to be made in the next 10-20 years. One major piece is determining the future of the city’s aquatic facilities, since Northview Pool and Lorraine Splash Pad are both at the end of their useful life. A referendum is expected to be on a future ballot to seek taxpayer support for the creation of a new aquatics center somewhere in the city. Also, a new volleyball court was made at Lorraine Park, eight ballfields were renovated, Kaposia Landing got a trail overlay, and the Kaposia Park pavilion was upgraded.

The department’s community events, including the Giant Egg Hunt and Color Run, continue to be a success. Last year, Splish Splash Bash attracted more than 2,000 people. It will be held this year 5-7 p.m., July 16, featuring inflatables, food trucks, a dance party and the giant slip ‘n slide.

The tennis courts at Summit Park will be resurfaced this year using a grant from the U.S. Tennis Association and playgrounds at Lorraine, Grandview, Jefferson, Spruce, Veterans and Kaposia parks are high priority for replacement within the next five years. New youth and community rental programs focused on cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and biking are also expected to launch. Additionally, Doug Woog Arena will get a new Zamboni, and the city is working to begin upgrades and replacements of HVAC systems at the arena.

About 300 new trees have been planted in the past three years to help restore the urban tree canopy, including 124 last year thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The city’s parks and boulevards have lost roughly 1,600 trees to date due to the emerald ash borer.

Community Affairs
Community members banded together last summer to raise funds to save the Lucy statue at the old South St. Paul city library building. It was in poor condition from years of erosion and was headed for a landfill before artist Jaclee Slaba restored it and it was moved to the new Kaposia Library, which opened early last year.

A new memorial was unveiled at Lawshe Park last summer to honor the first 90 women in the United States to vote following ratification of the 19th Amendment. The memorial also honors the late Lois Glewwe, renowned city historian and longtime contributor to the South St. Paul Voice, who passed away in 2023.

A new committee has formed to continue organizing a Memorial Day parade in South St. Paul. VFW Post #295 organized the event for many years until the Post dissolved and merged with the Hastings VFW last summer.

Elections
The city is planning to redistribute boundaries of at least two voting precincts. Currently, Precinct 5, located around Kaposia Education Center, is the largest in Dakota County with more than 3,800 voters, while Precinct 4 around Lawshe Museum has just over 800.

Last year, the city introduced in-person, early voting at City Hall, allowing more than 1,300 people to cast votes directly into a tabulator just like they would on election day. The timeframe for early voting was also expanded from 7 to 18 days.

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