Laserfiche WebLink
Council Meeting Minutes for July 7, 2025 <br />Page 7 of 9 <br />Highway 61 Construction Update <br /> <br />Washington County, in partnership with the City of Hugo and MNDOT, are making <br />improvements to TH 61 between Egg Lake Road and Frenchman Road. Construction is <br />scheduled to begin on July 7, 2025, with TH 61 remaining open to traffic except for a two-week <br />period. TH 61 between Egg Lake Road and Frenchman Road will be closed for a two-week <br />period that is currently scheduled to start July 28th. The detour is extensive and shown on the <br />Washington County Construction Newsletter. <br /> <br />City Engineer Mark Erichson explained the improvements would include lengthening turn lanes. <br />Replacing a large culvert, making pedestrian improvements. The City has entered into a <br />cooperative agreement with the State for the City’s portion of some of the signal improvements. <br />The widening and shoulder replacement on west side of TH61 will necessitate a full closure. <br />Some of the work was being done that week and traffic will be shifting lanes next week. The <br />week of July 28 will be the most disruptive part of the project with the closure of TH61 from <br />Egg Lake Road to Frenchman Road which will help shorten the project time. <br /> <br />Mark talked about the significant detour that will take traffic to the freeway. The road will be <br />open to business and residents, but no through traffic will be allowed. Fire Chief Jim Compton <br />and Washington County Sergeant Matt Wieland have been involved in the discussions on lane <br />closures. The sheriff’s office will be present during the first few days to see that things go <br />smoothly. It is realized people will find other routes, and there will be some cut-through traffic. <br />The detour will be posted in advance of the July 28 closure. Business and residents have been <br />notified. There is information on the project website and people can sign up to receive project <br />notifications. They are also coordinating with mapping applications as well. <br /> <br />As per City Code, City construction hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and <br />8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, with no work on Sunday or holidays. Mark explained the <br />contractor was requesting an extension of the working hours on Saturdays during the road <br />closure. Specifically, they are requesting that working hours be extended to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 <br />p.m. on Saturdays to limit the duration of the closure. <br /> <br />Miron made motion, Strub seconded, to grant the contractor’s request to extend construction <br />hours per suggestion of the staff. <br /> <br />All Ayes. Motion carried. <br /> <br />Lions Volunteer Park Veterans Memorial Sub-Committee <br /> <br />At the meeting of February 1, 2021, Council approved the overall site plan and preliminary <br />designs for Lions Park. The plan included a future memorial in the southeast corner of Lions <br />Volunteer Park in honor of Hugo Veterans. Future planning of the memorial was anticipated to <br />involve the Hugo American Legion, and they would like to begin its planning. <br /> <br />Parks Planner Shayla Denaway explained planning efforts would include operation, fundraising, <br />and design of the memorial. At their meeting of June 18, 2025, the Parks Commission <br />informally discussed the memorial and the establishment of a Memorial Sub-Committee. The