Aberdeen City Council Meeting - September 15, 2025

The Aberdeen City Council met on September 15, 2025, at 22:30 UTC. The meeting included approval of the 2026 budget appropriations ordinance on first reading, a public hearing on the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) featuring extensive debate on converting Main Street to two-way traffic, and approval of several pay requests for city infrastructure projects. The council also allocated promotional funds and heard public comments on meeting accessibility.

Consent Calendar

• Approved routine consent calendar items, including a proclamation for the rededication of the HP Gerber Education Building at Northern State University on September 19, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dawn Shepard (Aberdeen resident) raised concerns about the city's online meeting accessibility: TV broadcasts often blank, poor audio, or showing previous week's meetings; videos posted on the city website are delayed (last week's meeting still not available). She requested faster posting for public and council preparation. City Manager Jordan explained recent upgrades to Zoom recording and that videos are typically posted the next day on YouTube, but special meetings are not recorded—this was the cause of the delay.
• Jim Fisher (Aberdeen resident, former store owner) spoke during the CIP public hearing on the Main Street two-way conversion. He argued against the plan, citing safety risks (right-turn lane on 500 block would remove parked cars as a buffer, leaving pedestrians inches from traffic), loss of 24–29 parking spots hurting downtown businesses, and that increased traffic does not guarantee increased sales. He also noted that three of twelve alleys are not usable for deliveries as promised, and questioned the cost reduction from $1.4 million to $200,000, calling it unrealistic. He urged the council to verify sources and studies.

Discussion Items

• First Reading of Ordinance 250901 – 2026 Appropriations Budget: City Manager Jordan presented the budget, unchanged from August except for correcting Moccasin Creek transfer misclassification. The budget includes raises recommended by the previous compensation study and is balanced. Council approved unanimously (10-0).
• Public Hearing on 2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – Main Street Two-Way Conversion: The hearing focused on the plan's Main Street component. City Attorney Ron explained that next week the council will vote on two separate resolutions: one for the bulk of the CIP, and one specifically for the Main Street two-way conversion, to allow a clear up-or-down vote and potentially a referendum. Councilmembers expressed positions:
  • Councilmember David Ward opposed the turning lane option, supporting a simple two-way conversion without a turning lane. He estimated cost under $200,000 (with state light assistance $500–600k), minimal parking loss (one spot per block), and cited examples from other cities (Watertown, Chattanooga) where two-way streets increased sales, property values, and safety. He noted that main street infrastructure (water, sewer, pavement) will need replacement within 10 years, making now a low-cost time to test the change.
  • Councilmember (Foberg) shared his retail background, emphasizing that businesses reliant on foot traffic need more people downtown. He supported the two-way conversion without a turning lane as a reversible experiment.
  • Councilmember (Econger) supported two-way Main, citing traffic count data (750 more cars expected), improved safety by reducing through traffic, and the need for better parking signage. He noted that a prospective retail business struggled to locate downtown due to low traffic counts.
  • Councilmember (Nobstrup) echoed that all council members want the best for the community and urged constructive dialogue.
• Promotion Fund Allocation (Resolution): The council approved allocation of promotional funds to community organizations for 2026, with $55,000 left unallocated as reserve. Some councilmembers abstained on the Educational Impact Campaign allocation. The fund is derived from taxes on lodging, alcohol, and food (BBB).
• Pay Requests:
  • WRF Improvements (Pay Request #3) – $1,889,480 to PKG Contracting. Approved unanimously.
  • NECOG Administration – $10,000 to Northeast Council of Governments for Clean Water Act revolving fund and ARPA administration. Approved.
  • 10th Avenue Bridge Replacement – $431,566 to Prom Construction. Approved.
  • Airport Preconditioned Air Units, Runway Lighting, Terminal Expansion – $2,055, $63.41, and $2,675.33 respectively to Helms & Associates. Approved.
  • Airport Apron Reconstruction Phase II – $72,973.88 to Helms and $1,320,890.34 to Reedy Construction. Approved.
  • Terminal Access Road & Parking Lot – $11,497 to Helms, $191,649.31 to Domy Construction, and a decrease of $23,808.90 for change order. Approved.
• Bills: Approved with some abstentions (Councilmember Ronane abstained on a payment to Banner Associates).

Key Outcomes

• Budget First Reading: Passed unanimously (10-0). Second reading scheduled for next week.
• Capital Improvement Plan: Public hearing closed. The council will vote next week on two resolutions: one for the general CIP, and one specifically for the Main Street two-way conversion (either two-lane or three-lane with turning lane).
• Promotion Fund: Approved (9-0, with two abstentions on one item).
• All Pay Requests: Approved unanimously (10-0) with the exception of one abstention on a bill payment.
• Next Steps: City Manager Robin noted upcoming meetings and budget follow-up. Council will revisit Main Street decision next week.