South St. Paul City Council takes action on PFAS
Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
In mid-August, the South St. Paul City Council approved paying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) $1.2 million to evaluate and create options for reducing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” in the city’s public drinking water. It’s estimated that seven of the city’s eight wells currently fail new drinking water standards set in April by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The limit is 4 parts per trillion. The MPCA is expected to complete well monitoring and create plans within three years. The city has five years to fix the problem.
This is not an emergency situation in South St. Paul, according to city officials, so there is no need to seek an alternative source of water or boil water. If you have specific health concerns, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor or healthcare provider.
PFAS are prevalent in the environment and have been used since the 1940s in products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant clothing and firefighting foam. Exposure to certain PFAS over a long period of time can cause cancer and other illnesses, and exposure during pregnancy or early childhood can result in adverse health effects. For more information on PFAS and the new drinking water standard, visit epa.gov and search “PFAS.” The funding came from a one-time grant from the State of Minnesota.
City library building
The City of South St. Paul recently hired the Minneapolis-based firm New History to complete a feasibility study determining three or more options for the repurposing of the former city library building. The $150,000 project is being covered by a $175,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which was secured this year after a minor delay due to unclear language used in the grant.
The options are expected to be presented to the city council in late spring 2025. It should be noted that a previous study found it would cost $4.42 million to address deferred maintenance items at the property through 2032, including $1.82 million in critical deferred maintenance items that are recommended for replacement by 2026. Big ticket items include boiler and roof replacement, and significant exterior brick restoration.
Wakota Crossing
Capital Partners Development recently ended its preliminary development agreement with the City of South St. Paul for the redevelopment of 15 acres zoned for light industrial south of I-494, dubbed Wakota Crossing. The agreement had been in place since late 2022 but the developer backed out because of rising costs for soil remediation and poor access to the site. The city’s community gardens are in this area and will remain put for now.
South Concord Corridor Study
The South St. Paul City Council recently hired Swanson Haskamp Consulting to complete a market study of the South Concord Corridor and develop a long-term plan for its development. The corridor is in the southeastern corner of South St. Paul between Interstate 494 and the community’s southern border with Inver Grove Heights. The project was called for in the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, adopted in October 2020, and satisfies action steps in the city’s land use, economic development and transportation plans.
The city is using $35,000 from the economic development authority’s redevelopment fund and $25,000 from a redevelopment incentive grant from Dakota County to fund the work. Swanson Haskamp Consulting is partnering with Michael Lamb Consulting to undertake the project. These two companies partnered in 2021 to assist the city with the North Concord Mixed-Use Zoning District Update, a smaller corridor study that addressed zoning challenges on Concord Street north of Wentworth Avenue.
Primary election results
The August 12 Primary Election narrowed down mayoral candidates for the General Election held November 5. More than 12,000 residents were registered to vote, and 1,867 cast a ballot. Mark Westpfahl received the majority of votes at 49.33%, and incumbent Jimmy Francis received 46.06%. Eddie Wu received 4.61% and will not be on the ballot for the General Election.
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