August 27, 2025

RE: NOTICE to Counties and Municipalities - Notice of Public & Evidentiary Hearings

Application for Authority to Increase Electric Rates
Docket No. E002/GR-24-320

See Full Notice Here.

Territorial Park Construction Begins Today, Aug. 20

• Work starts Wednesday on recreation areas and trails.

• Crews will preserve as many trees as possible and plant about 100 new ones during construction

Construction Timeline:

• August 20: Clearing and grubbing begins.

• By November 1 (weather permitting): Most construction activities completed.

• Winter 2025–2026: Boardwalk installation.

Please stay out of the parkland for your safety until work is complete. Most construction will wrap up by Nov. 1 (weather permitting). Thank you for your cooperation!

Learn more: rogersmn.gov/projects-spotlight-parks

Notice of Proposed Ordinance 2025-08

An Ordinance Ordering the Closing of the Railroad Crossing Located on Fletcher Lane, Railroad Milepost 19.93, in the City of Rogers, Minnesota

On the 26th day of August, 2025, the Rogers City Council will consider Ordinance No. 2025-08, an Ordinance ordering the Fletcher Lane US DOT Number 095657R railroad crossing to be permanently closed to vehicular traffic at the time the City places appropriate end-of-road treatment on both of the railway approaches at a minimum distance of 50 feet from the nearest rail of the track.

The full text of the Ordinance may be reviewed at City Hall, located at 22350 South Diamond Lake Road, Rogers, MN 55374.  The ordinance can also be viewed online at our website http://rogersmn.gov.

Notice of Proposed Ordinance 2025-06 of the City of Rogers, Minnesota, Amending Chapter 38, Article III, Section 38-92 of the City Code

On the 26th day of August, 2025, the Rogers City Council will consider Ordinance No. 2025-06, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 38, Article III, Section 38-92 of the City Code to prohibit smoking, vaping, and use of tobacco and cannabis products in any City of Rogers Parks and Recreations facilities or on land operating by the City for park or recreational purposes.

The full text of the Ordinance may be reviewed at City Hall, located at 22350 South Diamond Lake Road, Rogers, MN 55374.  The ordinance can also be viewed online at our website http://rogersmn.gov.

In 2018, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners previously adopted County Ordinance 13, which requires all cities in the County to ensure that curbside organics recycling is made available to all residential properties in each municipality (cities under 10,000 population can comply via drop-off sites).  Like all other cities, Rogers must comply with this Ordinance, or Hennepin County will implement a program and charge the City directly, to be paid by utility/recycling customers, likely at a significantly higher cost to residents.

Billing by garbage haulers for those organics services is complicated by the fact that State Statute requires that a customer who chooses not to request an organics recycling cart and does not use the service must be charged the same monthly rate as a customer who does request a cart and actively recycles organics. These are State and County requirements, not those of the City.

Rogers City Council and staff worked diligently over the years to seek various forms of relief related to this ordinance from the County Board.  Ultimately, the City was informed that the County cannot and will not provide such relief/amendment due to its required Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) solid waste plan, and the City must therefore comply with curbside service provision as soon as possible.

As of the time of adoption, Rogers was the final City in Hennepin County that was over 10,000 population at the time Ordinance 13 was adopted, which had not yet complied with the ordinance.  In reviewing options and potential contracts for services, City legal counsel noted a new option which had not yet been considered – adoption of a simple ordinance requiring the compliance by haulers. 

In order for the city to comply with the County requirements imposed on the City/residents in the least intrusive way possible, the City of Rogers recently adopted a city ordinance to require garbage haulers to offer curbside organics pickup and to follow all state/county requirements regarding billing and reporting.  This ordinance doesn’t change how garbage haulers have already been addressing the situation/billing customers since early 2024.  Each is allowed to set their own organics charge, and residents/customers are able to “shop around” as they have always done regarding garbage hauling.
 

 
City Council and staff realize and understand that many residents who choose not to use their organics recycling service but are nevertheless charged the monthly fee, as has been the case for the past year-plus, will find these requirements unfair, but this issue is not within the control of the City of Rogers, and compliance is not optional.  The Council’s goal has been to comply with the minimum requirements in the least onerous and invasive way possible for residents.