West St. Paul City Council chambers

West St. Paul City Council Preview: Oct. 10, 2022

We believe in government transparency and provide these West St. Paul City Council previews with your support.

It’s a mostly quiet City Council meeting for West St. Paul with marijuana regulations that have already been discussed and next year’s street projects. The more noteworthy conversations come during the work session with potential changes to the Butler and Stassen intersection and shopping around for a city attorney.

Shopping for a City Attorney

The City of West St. Paul has retained the legal services of Levander, Gillen and Miller for City Attorney Kori Land for over 27 years. While there are two years left in the contract, there is a termination option. The city is proposing getting bids from other attorneys and considering a possible change.

This doesn’t mean West St. Paul will be getting a new city attorney, but it’s a real possibility. It’s the first step toward a change, though it could just as easily result in staying with Levander, Gillen and Miller. The request for proposal will be discussed during the Open Council Work Session (OCWS) and potentially approved during the regular meeting.

Butler and Stassen Intersection Changes

During the OCWS, Dakota County will give a presentation on proposed changes to the Butler and Stassen/Sperl intersection (the entrance to Thompson Park). The proposal includes changing the intersection from an all-way stop to side stop where only Stassen and Sperl traffic have a stop sign. They would also add pedestrian improvements, including a flashing light warning system.

Public engagement would happen this fall and winter with project construction not coming until 2024.

Other Items on the Agenda:

  • 2023 road projects: City Council will get an overview of the mill and overlay projects for next year, including projected costs and assessments for residents. (We’ve previously covered the various approaches the city takes to road maintenance.)
  • Marijuana regulation: The expected ordinances for intoxicating THC products will come before City Council for a first reading. There was little debate during the OCWS discussion at the last meeting, so it’s likely this will be straight forward. A public hearing will come on October 24.

The public can watch the meeting live on Town Square TV or cable TV starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (5:45 p.m. for the OCWS).

Learn more about how city council works with our Guide to West St. Paul City Council.

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