Maple Grove Mayor’s Minutes: Community Center Planning and Transportation Projects
Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson spoke with Dave Kiser about the latest news in the city in this Maple Grove Mayor’s Minutes.
New Council Members
Following the November 2022 election, the city of Maple Grove has two new council members on its city council, Kristy Janigo and Rachelle Johnson.
“It’s exciting to have them on the council,” said Steffenson, and added, “I certainly want to thank Phil Leith and Karen Jaeger for all their years of service, both over 20 years of service to the city.”
Maple Grove City Council Election Results
Community Center Planning
Another item on the ballot in November was the proposed local option sales tax that would partially fund the renovation of the Maple Grove Community Center. That half-cent sales tax passed, and the city is moving forward with next steps. The tax will start being imposed on April 1st.
Steffenson explained that while the money is starting to be collected, planning will begin.
“At the same time, we’re going to be sitting down and really putting our heads together on exactly what’s going to go into the remodeling of the community center, how this is going to move forward, exactly what we can afford to do based on the tax.”
Steffenson expects that there’s going to be a lot of work done this year on the planning of the community center with construction starting next year.
One idea for the new community center
State Legislature
Maple Grove is also working on some bonding bills in the state legislature, with the primary one affecting the redevelopment of the community center.
Last year, the city asked for $18 million for the community center. However, the city increased the bonding request this year to account for inflation.
“We’re hopeful, with the surplus, that they will return to the same sort of bonding bill process and that the city will have $18-25 million of bonding money,” Steffenson said.
Steffenson went on to say that the additional funds would help greatly in accomplishing the remodeling that’s needed at the community center.
Highway 610
Steffenson had good news to share about the future of Hwy. 610. All the funding has been “cobbled together” that’s needed to complete the construction of the interchange at I-94, as well as building what would essentially be County Road 610 that would connect to County Road 30.
“All the different funding has come together very nicely, and we’re going to be going forward with that project this year,” said Steffenson.
Hwy. 610, Maple Grove
Highway 169 and Elm Creek Boulevard
There’s also good news about the interchange at Hwy. 169 and Elm Creek Blvd. on the east side of Maple Grove.
Steffenson said with the “significant amount of growth” in the gravel mine industrial park and business park in that area, it’s an interchange that needs to be redone.
Steffenson is excited that the city is receiving Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for that project. Those funds should help with redesigning and reconstructing the interchange which Steffenson thinks will help that area near downtown Maple Grove.
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