Duluth City Council Meeting - May 7, 2026: Appointments, Parking Agreement, and Infrastructure Resolutions
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Duluth City Council Meeting - May 7, 2026: Appointments, Parking Agreement, and Infrastructure Resolutions
The Duluth City Council met on May 7, 2026, to conduct a personnel interview, consider multiple resolutions, and discuss various city matters. Key items included an interview with Patrick DeGrood for the Duluth Airport Authority, a controversial parking agreement with Hermantown Church, and several infrastructure and environmental resolutions.
Personnel Interview
- Patrick DeGrood was interviewed for appointment to the Duluth Airport Authority. DeGrood, a construction management professional with 17 years in Duluth, emphasized the airport as a community gateway and highlighted opportunities for the aviation cluster. He identified expanding services, the importance of the 148th Fighter Wing, and re-envisioning airport land as priorities. DeGrood expressed support for transparent decision-making and balancing community needs with development. The appointment was placed on the agenda for a vote on Monday, May 11.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 414 (Parking Agreement with Hermantown Church): The council discussed an amended parking agreement providing 47 reserved spaces at no cost in the West Hillside Parking Ramp, originally part of a land acquisition deal with First Presbyterian Church. Director Bauer explained that the agreement compensates the church for lost parking due to ramp construction. Critics, including Councillors Timonic, Klana, and Desatel, raised concerns about the arrangement's duration, tax implications, and equity with other organizations. Councillor Randorf noted that voting down the resolution could breach existing contracts. The resolution was pulled (no vote) pending further discussion.
- Resolution 410 (Pole Attachment License with Minnesota Power): Pulled due to Councillor Forsman's absence, as it involves his employer.
- Resolution 380 (Storm Damage Civil Sites Repairs): Awarded to KTM Paving for $2,251,588.27. Landscape Architect Jim Schoberg confirmed competitive bidding per federal requirements.
- Resolution 381 (Mud Lake Habitat Restoration): Authorized a project with the DNR to install an additional opening in the causeway, improving hydrologic connection and habitat. Natural Resource Coordinator (unnamed) noted the project will help delist the St. Louis River as an Area of Concern. The DNR is coordinating with the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad for continued service.
- Other Appointments: Resolutions to confirm Amber Burns (Public Arts Commission), Wayne Ganaway (Heritage Preservation Commission), and Jason Hurt (Parks and Recreation) were discussed.
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Contract awarded to Triple E Water and Sewer for $1,485,190.90.
- Natural Gas Regulator Station Heater: Sole source purchase from OGI Process Equipment for $346,450, with a $7,000 increase due to retrofitting controls.
Key Outcomes
- Patrick DeGrood's appointment will be voted on at the next council meeting (Monday, May 11).
- Resolutions 410 and 414 were pulled from consideration; no vote taken.
- All other resolutions (items 2-13, 15-17, 19-24) were presumably approved by consent or voice vote, as no objections were recorded.
- The council will begin pre-agenda meetings with Director Colhain starting in June.
Note: The transcript does not include final votes on most items; the above is based on the discussion and absence of opposition.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Are you Patrick? And is it de Grode? DeGrood. Okay, come on up and welcome. Are you okay? Yes, that would be great. We have a personnel interview, and this one's going to be for the airport authority tonight. So welcome. We'll start with a few questions. Please give us a brief outline of your education and experiences as it relates to this appointment. And how would your background be a benefit in relation to this specific body? Yeah, I went to college at uh South Dakota South Dakota State University for construction management and business. I've actually been up here for about 17 years, did an internship at Jamar Company, and now I oversee the commercial aspect of Jamar, so all commercial construction and service. But honestly, since I got out of college, uh learning really has not stopped. I work for Jamar, which is part of API group, and uh one of their central tenants is building great leaders. And so uh spent a lot of my time uh focusing on my own leadership and uh leadership of the team around me, and so you know, I think having a background and service and a focus on leadership, and uh I think having that perspective, I guess would be helpful for the airport authority. All right. Uh tell us more about why you're interested in serving in this role. Um I I guess I look at the airport as being kind of a gateway to our community, um a gateway out and a gateway in. Um and I just think that there's an awful lot of potential around the airport and the aviation cluster, and so um having somebody with kind of a construction and service background, I think could be a benefit to the airport authority. Thank you. What do you consider to be the personal strengths or unique perspectives you would bring to this role? I uh I struggle with strengths. Uh I'm probably like a lot of other people, but I focus a lot on the deltas. But um I do approach uh things from a listen first perspective. Um, you know, understanding where other people are coming from to better address the issues or the challenges that we're trying to uh discuss. Um so that I also just one of the my favorite parts of the role that I'm in now. Um get to focus on some difficult problems and uh you know, brainstorming, trying to think outside the box, being solutions focused. Um I think is is one of the things that I really enjoy. Um, if I can help add another perspective or just be another set of years to try to understand some of the challenges that uh that the airport has be happy to take that on and lend the hands however I can. All right. Is there anything else you would like to add in relation to your qualifications or your interest in this appointment? Um, you know, I I've I'm not from Duluth, uh, but I've been up here for 17 years. Uh my family's here. Um the success of our community is incredibly important to me. Um the success of the airport and the key resources within our community are incredibly important to me. And so um, you know, I just I care a lot about uh you know our region, and I think that the airport is kind of one of the central um you know central uh sorry um it's really central to our success, but it's one of the things that uh differentiates us uh from some of the other communities around here, you know. It is it is a a relatively large airport, and and I think that the opportunity that's around the airport is is something that they're gonna have to probably navigate here in the next few years, and so I think it'd be fun to be part of those discussions, and you know, if I have a perspective that's helpful to them, um I'd be happy to partake. All right, I'm gonna open up to counselor questions. Um counselor Timonik. Thank you, President Nephew. Um, can you give me on mute? No. Can you give me oh no? Okay. Can you tell us your top three priorities for the airport? And I know that's tough when you're not, but just as someone coming in, what three things would you like to work on? Yeah, I mean, one of the challenges I see with the airport is that they are in a kind of a difficult geographic location. We're close enough to the cities that going down to the cities to fly out of is easy.
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