Apr. 13, 2026 Shorewood Council Meeting 3 Minute Recap

NOTE: Relevant links are at the end of this article.

Agenda Item 2: Claims List

Expenditures of note:

SRF  $7,115 (comp plan)
LMCD $8,326 (2nd quarter)
Carpeting  $13,965
League of MN Cities Insurance  $98,016  (casualty claim)
Met Council  $100,018 (monthly waste water)
Loader  $215,778 (net)
Payroll  $275,104
SLMPD  $469,756 (2nd quarter)

Total payments $1,271,013

4B. Council Votes 3-2 to Extend City Water to Mill Street — Who Pays Is Still an Open Question

The Shorewood City Council voted 3-2 to move forward with an $813,000 ($83,000 over budget) water main extension along Mill Street, approving the project over objections that the city continues to ignore its ordinance and lacks a clear policy for who bears the cost.

• Supporters argued the timing was a rare opportunity to save the city several hundred thousand dollars by bundling construction. The project would stub service to 25 properties and lay groundwork for eventually connecting Shorewood’s two water systems
• Council members DiGruttolo and Sanschagrin argued the project puts the cart before the horse. The city’s water enterprise fund is not self-sustaining, and there is still no uniform policy for how residents are assessed when water main goes in front of their homes.
• 25 properties will gain water access, but only one household has expressed tepid interest in connecting. The low interest drew pointed questions: If current water ratepayers are funding the extension, and no one connects, who absorbs that cost?
• Labadie emphasized the added benefit of fire hydrants in a neighborhood that currently has none.
• However, Council member Maddy, who serves on the fire board, said that while tanker trucks can successfully handle fires without hydrants, “more hydrants are better.”

The underlying policy tension isn’t resolved. City Administrator Nevinsky acknowledged the issue directly: “This council has not wanted to [require hook-ups]. That’s kind of a last resort.”

Also from this meeting:

• A resident reported that a 1.5 mile walk on Shorewood trails yielded 343 polypropylene brush bristles shed by city snow removal equipment — a micro plastics concern staff confirmed they’re already investigating.
• Park Commissioner Janet Sylvester reported on resident Barry Brown’s presentation complimenting the new Park Master Plan. Brown suggested determining who has oversight for Smithtown Ponds, considering a use for the public access at Silver Lake, and researching public dock opportunities as a source of revenue. She also mentioned a 38% increase in ice rink attendance this winter, with Cathcart Park seeing a 165% surge in family rink usage.
• Following an extended licensing discussion that included a Chinese interpreter, customer testimony, and rigorous council questioning, members worked with the licensee of Tonka Wellness, a local massage therapy business, to ensure her understanding of the conditions for extending time to remedy reported violations. The council voted unanimously to give Tonka Wellness 30 days to reach compliance — subject to unannounced spot inspections built in as a licensing condition.

The next council meeting is Apr. 27th.

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Mill Street Mire: Who Will Pay for the Water main?