Sauk Rapids Council Looking to Approve New School Facilities

(KNSI) – The Sauk Rapids City Council is expected to approve facilities upgrades to the high school campus.

The item is part of the consent agenda at Monday’s meeting. Unlike the renovations at Pleasantview Elementary, which sits in the middle of a neighborhood, the new projects are limited to existing school properties that are isolated. That changes the city’s review of the projects from one that includes stormwater, lighting, and landscaping to only transportation and utilities.

The city is still waiting on a traffic study to see how the proposed Early Childhood Center, sports complex, and garage addition will affect the number of vehicles using the campus, but the civil engineering department has already reviewed the proposal. Their requested changes could potentially be added to the conditions for approval.

The council will also hear from staff on the 2026 enterprise funds budget. The biggest sticking point is the water fund due to unexpected PFAS abatement costs. Helping to get the fund balance rightside up is $3 million in matching grants from the Minnesota Department of Health and the State Historic Preservation Office. However, those require a lengthy environmental review that could push the work to 2027. Water rates are scheduled to rise 4% for residents.

Sewer rates are projected to increase by 2.5%, with costs largely determined by the City of St. Cloud. Sauk Rapids pays loans to St. Cloud for the regional wastewater treatment plant. The largest percentage increase is the stormwater fund, which is slated to jump by $21 per year for the average resident due to rising construction costs.

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