Virginia City Council approves routine appointments, designations and bids; adopts finance resolution with one recusal

At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Virginia City Council approved multiple routine resolutions and appointments for 2026, authorized advertising for bids on HVAC upgrades and accepted a planning variance, and adopted a finance resolution despite one councilor’s recusal.

On the consent agenda the council approved listed travel requests and other standard items. City administrator Bridal Bennett presented two travel items: James Hunt, events manager, to the Explore Minnesota Tourism conference in Duluth in February 2026 at no cost to the city, and Pamela Levine, city clerk, to the Minnesota Clerks & Finance Officers Association annual conference in Brooklyn Center, Minn., March 24–27, 2026, at a cost of $1,287.53.

The council adopted Finance Resolution No. 26‑001 (schedule of bills). Councilor Paulson announced a conflict and abstained because a daughter receives pay as a figure‑skating coach; the motion carried with one recusal. "I will have to abstain from voting on this as my daughter is being paid for a figure skating coach," Paulson said during roll call.

Councilors moved and approved annual items: designation of the city’s depositories for 2026, designation of the Mesaba Tribune as the official newspaper, and appointments to the regional advisory committee, the Emergency Communications Board and the radio owners/operators committee. Councilor Johnson and others also moved to reappoint Councilor Paulson as vice mayor for 2026; Paulson accepted.

Staff reported from the Committee of the Whole that bids will be advertised for proposed HVAC upgrades at City Hall and the public library; staff said they are seeking funding sources and that advertising is to gather baseline bid pricing, not to obligate the city to accept any particular bid. Planning & Zoning approved a variance request for NT Canopy LLC at 550 North 3rd Avenue to allow a zero‑foot setback on two sides of the parking lot, approved with conditions, and the council approved that action.

The council agreed to join the ARDC Regional Development Commission's Brownfield Assessment Coalition and to send a letter of support for a US EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant application; staff explained the coalition covers multiple regional sites and specific sites would be selected later if the coalition is awarded funding.

The meeting closed with committee and department reports, including an oath of office for newly appointed Councilor Justin Scalco, who introduced himself to the council. The council adjourned to its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.