Council approves $2.15M street project, advances OVG contract termination
The Thief River Falls City Council approved the 2026 Street & Utilities Improvement Project, a roughly $2.15 million effort that includes reconstruction of 6th Street, a multi-use trail on Barzen Avenue, and LED street lighting replacements. In a separate action, the council directed staff to negotiate a mutual termination of the city's management contract with Oak View Group (OVG), following a failed motion to end the contract the previous day.
Street and utilities project
At its Aug. 18 meeting, the council unanimously approved the 2026 Street & Utilities Improvement Project, ordering improvements and calling for plans and specifications. The project covers reconstruction of 6th Street, a multi-use trail on Barzen Avenue, and LED street lighting replacements, with total estimated construction costs of about $2.15 million.
OVG management contract
On Aug. 18, a motion to terminate the OVG management contract failed on a 4-4 vote. The next day, Aug. 19, the council unanimously passed Resolution 08.170.26 directing the City Administrator and Mayor to work with legal counsel Flaherty & Hood to contact OVG and pursue negotiations for a mutual termination of the management contract, with exit buyout options to be brought back to the council for approval.
Other council actions
At the Aug. 18 meeting, the council also:
- Approved the rezoning of 516 8th St from C-1 to C-2 (unanimous).
- Set a Sept. 15 hearing for an 18-month data center moratorium (unanimous).
- Certified $1,167.32 in unpaid sidewalk snow removal charges to 2027 property taxes (unanimous).
- Approved a resolution on Enbridge property tax appeals (unanimous).
- Appointed Councilmember Julie Bolduc to the Employee Safety Committee (unanimous).
- Approved $605,911.61 in bills and disbursements (unanimous).
At the Aug. 12 meeting, the council unanimously approved Resolution 08.158.26 to set a public hearing for Sept. 1, 2026, on amendments to Sections 2.6 and 3.1 of City Ordinance 114.02, which covers cannabis and lower potency hemp edibles. No other substantive decisions were made at that meeting.
Coming up
The City Council will hold a public hearing on Sept. 1, 2026, regarding the cannabis ordinance amendments. A hearing on the proposed 18-month data center moratorium is set for Sept. 15, 2026.