St. Cloud Council Approves Granite Monuments for 33rd Street Roundabouts

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud City Council has approved building granite monuments at two roundabouts along 33rd Street South.

The 6-1 vote authorizes stone features at the roundabouts at 33rd Street South and County Road 74, and 33rd Street South and Cooper Avenue. Council member Scott Brodeen cast the lone no vote, citing concerns that the monuments could pose a safety hazard if vehicles were to crash into them.

The monuments will use granite remnants. Mayor Jake Anderson told KNSI News that despite some objections, the choice of material reflects both practical and cultural considerations. “So, is granite the prettiest, sexiest stone? No. But we don’t want to put bushes, grass, flowers, because we have to maintain it. So it’s a good compromise. It fits our identity.”

St. Cloud’s granite industry goes back to 1868 and the town’s moniker is The Granite City.

Anderson says the project grew out of a campaign promise to improve the appearance of the city’s roundabouts, which he says have sometimes resembled weed beds compared to landscaped roundabouts in neighboring communities like Sartell and Sauk Rapids. “In moving forward with these designs, although not everyone likes them, it goes towards creating that uniqueness and that personality and saying, hey, we have some pride in our community.”

A community poll conducted in early April asked residents to rank three design concepts: an arch, two stones side by side, or three stones side by side. Each option would bear the city’s name. According to city staff, the multiple-stone natural design emerged as the preferred configuration.

The gateway monument concept traces back to the city’s 2003 and 2015 Comprehensive Plans, both of which call for granite features at key community entry points.

The funding source is the dedicated transportation regional tax.

The three approved agreements include a contract with Sunburst for stone fabrication and installation at a cost of $91,350, an agreement with WSB for foundation engineering design services at $8,700, and authorization for the mayor and city clerk to enter into an agreement with the low quote for foundation construction, estimated at $50,000. Quotes for that work will be solicited once the foundation design is complete.

Anderson says residents can expect to see the monuments in place by the end of the summer.

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