Public Works Update

Property Damage Reporting

Residents and businesses are requested to report any and all damage to property caused by the recent flooding. This information will be included in our reporting to State and Federal agencies. No disaster relief funds are available at this time, but this information is necessary in determining possible assistance. If assistance becomes available, residents will be notified.

Citizen Property Damage Reporting

2024 Construction Projects

2024 Street & Utility

McKinley Street SW, Anderson Place SW

Major street and utility projects involving varying degrees of reconstruction to street sections, water main and service replacement, sanitary sewer and service connections, several storm sewer structures and pipe construction, and several sections of curb and gutter are planned for 2024. The streets included in this year's project are:

McKinley Street SW: Lilac Avenue to Linn Avenue
Anderson Place SW: McKinley Street to the cul-de-sac

The start date for this project has been moved to mid-August.

Check out the 2024 Street & Utility Project Map.

Cedar Avenue North Mill & Overlay

A section of North Cedar Avenue requires repairs beyond crack sealing and routine pothole filling. Due to the deteriorating condition, .9 miles of North Cedar Avenue from the bridge south of 11th Avenue to the 26th Street Roundabout are planned to be overlaid.

Several manholes and catch basins will need work performed on them prior to the paving portion of the project. The structure maintenance will begin early next week, or the following week. The milling and overlaying portion is expected to begin late July.

Please keep an eye out for updates regarding road or lane closures while work is completed on this high traffic roadway.

2024 Overlay Project

4 street segments are planned to be overlayed this construction season.

Rolling Green Drive SE - from Van Buren Avenue SE to Minnesota Avenue
Van Buren Avenue SE - from Havana Road to South Street
Phelps Street - from Harriet Avenue SE to Hillcrest Avenue SE
Paris Place

This project will be completed by a contractor that will do the preparation work and the Owatonna Street Department will do the paving.

The contractor is nearly finished with the manhole adjustments and replacements. The paving phase of the project is expected to begin mid-July.

Street Maintenance (Crack Sealing & Seal Coating)

The City of Owatonna annually crack-seals roadways in advance of seal coating. Approximately 4.99 miles are planned for crack sealing and seal coating in 2024. Pearson Bros, Inc of Hanover, Minnesota was awarded the contract and they are anticipated to begin work. A tentative start date is planned for early August.

2024 Crack Seal & Seal Coating Location Map

Street Division Paving Project

The Street Division Paving Project on Autumn Drive, Wedgewood Drive, and 25th Avenue has been completed. Thank you for your patience throughout the project.

Creek Maintenance for Creekside Property Owners

Value of our Creeks

Creeks are an irreplaceable natural resource as they are a vital piece to storm water management for your property and our City. They carry direct runoff from creekside properties, provide a habitat for wildlife and a host of aesthetic benefits.

Why Your Help Matters

Most creeks are located on private property and are not public water, much of the responsibility for the health of the creek lies with the residents. Ownership of creekside property carries special responsibilities and risks. You and your neighbors on both sides of the creek share responsibility for maintaining your banks and riparian vegetation. By properly exercising this responsibility you enhance your own property but also prevent erosion and avoid flood losses. Another benefit is the preservation of the community’s water quality.

Preventative Maintenance

Check your creek bank regularly for signs of erosion and correct problems as they arise.

Don’t locate structures in the riparian corridors.
Never throw brush, grass clippings, and pruning into your creek.
Manage all debris and garbage.
Control your run-off.
Be aware that many natural appearing banks are vulnerable to erosion.
Always seek expert technical advice before attempting a major restoration of creek banks.
Consider your neighbors.

If you have dams or jams that are a result of excess debris and fallen trees, please promptly remove the debris from the watercourse. This will help prevent localized flooding and protect the safety of the community. If you are uncertain of your responsibilities or requirements, please contact us at stormwater@owatonna.gov

Visit Creek Maintenance | Owatonna, MN for more information.

Stormwater Projects

Comprehensive SWMP

The City of Owatonna is in the process of gathering information to complete a comprehensive surface water management plan (SWMP). The SWMP provides a roadmap for implementing stormwater infrastructure improvement projects, meeting current and future capacity needs, improving the community’s climate resiliency, and improving the water quality of our local waterbodies. A draft Comprehensive SWMP will be available for comment soon.

Community Flood Survey & Climate Resiliency Planning

The City of Owatonna received $88,380.00 in Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) grant funding to be used for planning projects to improve stormwater, wastewater, and community resilience. Minnesota’s climate is changing, causing harmful effects in communities across our state today. The impacts experienced include risks to health and safety, overwhelmed infrastructure, damaged property, dying trees and culturally important native species, and the inability of population centers to cool off overnight.

The 3 main goals of this project are to:

Identify improvements to stormwater infrastructure in flood risk priority areas within the Environmental Justice Areas under future rainfall events to protect economically vulnerable homes and businesses;
Develop a climate response plan for underserved portions of Owatonna to maintain access to integral community services during future flood events;
Provide scientific basis for an upcoming stormwater utility rate update, development of the next 10-year capital improvement plan, and state funding grant applications.

In efforts to gather information and further strengthen our Climate Resiliency Plan and flood mitigation planning, please enter any reports/concerns of flooding or drainage issues via this link: Owatonna Community Flood Reporting (arcgis.com)

The grant completion date is 6/30/2024 and the Climate Resiliency Plan will be available for comment soon. Please stay tuned for additional information!

Pollutant Reduction Strategy

As part of the City’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) our community is required to identify sources of pollutants and develop a plan to make progress towards reducing and preventing pollutants entering lakes and streams to keep them swimmable, fishable, and to support aquatic plants and animals. Many of the water bodies within the Cannon River Watershed are classified as impaired waters. Impairments are due to excess nutrients, sediment, and bacteria.

The City of Owatonna partnered with WHKS to develop a Pollutant Reduction Strategy to meet our total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and waste load allocations (WLAs) goals for phosphorus, turbidity, and fecal coliform. Want to learn more about the City’s actions towards reaching the pollution reduction goals? Visit the Owatonna Pollutant Reduction Strategy website which outlines possible sources of pollutants, the City’s pollutant reduction plan, and ways that you can help get involved!

Find more information on these important Stormwater Projects, by visiting our website: Stormwater Projects | Owatonna, MN