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The city of Cottage Grove recently broke ground on its largest infrastructure project to date: a $39 million low-zone water-treatment plant at the intersection of 110th Street and Ideal Avenue.

The new plant, which includes a new city well, will treat all the water in the city south of U.S. Highway 61, said Ryan Burfeind, the city’s public works director. It is expected to be operational by June 2025.

The new well will replace two wells contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) “that are far removed from the main treatment plant,” Burfeind said. “It’s actually cheaper to drill a new well as opposed to laying miles and miles of pipe.”

The money for the construction of the plant is coming from the city’s share of the $850 million settlement reached in 2018 between the state of Minnesota and 3M Co., the company that made the PFAS substances that have leaked into water supplies across the metro area and worldwide.

The groundbreaking “signaled the start of the permanent solution, long-term solution to provide treated water for generations to come,” Burfeind said. “It was a very important day.”

Cottage Grove previously built five temporary treatment plants to handle the contaminated water, connected 183 homes to the public water system and laid almost 9 miles of pipes to make connections for clean water for a total cost of $37 million, Burfeind said.

“We’ve always had that commitment to provide safe drinking water, and we provide it now with the temporary plants,” he said. “Those are very important with our current operations, but this is our permanent solution.”

The city next year will begin construction on a permanent water-treatment plant that will treat all city water north of U.S. Highway 61, Burfeind said. That plant, designed to treat three times as much water as the plant south of U.S. 61, will be located behind the city’s Central Fire Station on 80th Street, according to Burfeind.

A cost estimate is not yet available, he said.

Mayor Myron Bailey at the groundbreaking shared that the city has been at the epicenter of the PFAS contamination in Minnesota since 2006. Residents have waited years for permanent drinking water facilities to be constructed, he said.

Bailey thanked the co-trustees of the 3M Settlement, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for their partnership on developing the conceptual drinking water supply plan. “Their leadership throughout this process has been key to making projects such as this treatment plant a reality,” he said.

Bailey also noted that the Minnesota Department of Health has been a key partner for the community through their work in providing information on the evolving science and education of PFAS.

The Maplewood-based 3M Co. began making PFAS at a facility in Cottage Grove in the 1940s and historically disposed of PFAS wastes in four east-metro locations, the source of identified PFAS impacts in Washington County groundwater.

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” do not break down in the environment and can build up in the human body, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Immediate risks are believed to be low, but long-term exposure to the chemicals can result in immune suppression, changes in liver function and lower birth weight, according to state officials.

In his nearly nine years on the Cottage Grove City Council, council member Steve Dennis never missed a meeting.

“Let’s see … 27 times 9 is about 243 meetings,” said Dennis, who resigned on Oct. 4. “That’s a pretty good streak. I think people got their money’s worth with me.”

Dennis, 57, said he closed his longtime business, Dennis Brothers Liquor, in July and has moved out of the city. Stepping down from the council and leaving the city was an “extremely difficult decision,” he said Monday.

“I lived there for 34 years,” Dennis said. “I love the community, and I have a lot of friends and people that I care about there, but it was time for me to do some new and different things in life.”

Oct. 4 was named “Steve Dennis Day” in Cottage Grove.

“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments made by our city council, staff team, and those community members who have volunteered their time to make Cottage Grove a better place,” Dennis wrote in his letter of resignation. “I also carry tremendous appreciation towards the dignified way our council has approached our call to service and the outstanding results we have achieved on behalf of the entire community.”

On his list of proudest accomplishments: Helping structure a deal to bring a new grocery store to fill the vacant Home Depot store; helping set records for economic-development success that allowed the city to grow in a way that brought value to taxpayers; helping ensure a safe and clean water supply for the city; and helping the city achieve a AAA bond rating through exceptional fiscal management and planning, he said.

Dennis, who was first elected to the council in November 2014, was known for his work ethic, passion and dedication, said council member Justin Olsen. Dennis was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

“Being a council member is something that we all take extremely seriously, and I know that you hold that in the highest regard,” Olsen said. “We’re very grateful for what you’ve done for our community. You are somebody who has definitely put their heart and soul into the position of councilmember, and I think that’s the only way you can do it.”

Appointment, election

Dennis’ term was slated to end at the end of 2026. The Cottage Grove City Council has declared a vacancy and will fill the vacancy by appointment until a special election is held; the appointee would serve until the results of the Nov. 5, 2024, special election are canvassed.

Applications (including resumes and letter of interest) will be received until 4 p.m. Nov. 9.

For more information, go to cottagegrovemn.gov.

GREY CLOUD ISLAND, Minn. (FOX 9) - Homeowners on Grey Cloud Island are fighting to preserve their township’s long history, as a local mining company moves to annex 119.5 acres of its land in the township this spring.

"This is completely unexpected," township board supervisor Dan Ohmann told FOX 9 on Wednesday. "We have worked in good faith with Holcim every year."

Holcim’s petition for annexation reads: "the township form of government is not adequate to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the community surrounding this property because of a shortage of staff and resources."

Ohmann responded: "in all the years that I’ve served, we have not had any complaints from Holcim for lack of service." Instead, he claims the township has pushed for Holcim to be a better neighbor and steward of the land. Now, he believes the company is trying to sidestep that, into a looser set of rules in Cottage Grove.

The annexation could have large financial consequences for Grey Cloud Island Township, because of its gravel tax.

"We get about $30,000 each year," Ohmann said. "Which is not a lot to somebody like Cottage Grove. But in the township, it definitely helps us with our roads."

"That would be the demise of Great Cloud Island history… a township since the 50s," Ohmann continued. "We are a small township. We have 120 houses. We have 100 residents on a petition that don’t want this.

Ohmann fears annexation won’t stop with the 119.5 acres, but instead that Holcim will eventually annex all 500+ acres of its land, piece by piece.

"That would lead us to not being able to make ends meet as a township," Ohmann said. "And they would govern over half our community, so it would not make a lot of sense."

Holcim sent FOX 9 this statement on Wednesday:

Cottage Grove has the required resources and expertise to handle the complex permitting and environmental regulations applicable to mining operations. Furthermore, we seek a progressive partner that values the vital role that high-quality construction aggregates play in the continued development of the twin cities and recognizes the potential for unique recreational space and residential development on this property after the mining of the property is completed. The company looks forward to continuing its operations at the Larson quarry for the foreseeable future. We also look forward to collaborating with cottage grove in its work to plan for growth and the development of local recreational amenities. The annexation provides job security for the 28 employees working in the quarry and associated barge transport system.

FOX 9 reached out to Cottage Grove’s mayor and city administrator but did not hear back.

COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. -- A storefront sits in the heart of Cottage Grove, the town LaShonda McGowan and her three kids call home.

"It's not too fast, it's not too slow paced. It's just everybody is down to earth here in Cottage Grove, and that's why I like it here," McGowan said.

But there was something she didn't like.

"When I go shopping for myself for beauty supplies, there are stores that only have a shelf this big for us, for the African-American community. And it's frustrating, 'cause then we have to drive to St. Paul just to get basic, basic needs met for our hair. And you shouldn't have to drive 30 minutes," McGowan said.

So she made a vision board and she made a plan. Weeks later, she left her job as an X-ray tech, cashed in her savings, and leased space inside a salon. It happened so quick, she says she even surprised herself.

Ebony Queen Beauty Supply is now up and running, and the 2,000 Black residents of Cottage Grove can shop local.

"People will come out and say, 'I didn't know you were here, I am so glad you are here so we don't have to go to St. Paul.' I get a lot of the 'we don't have to go to St. Paul' line," McGowan said.

And now the town where she lives feels even even more like home.

Ebony Queen Beauty Supply is open Tuesday through Saturday, and is located inside the Salons by JC building.

Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield

Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield loves sharing the good news. She hosts a show on Sunday mornings based on local "positivity and empowerment," leading right into CBS Sunday Morning.

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JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) is looking to continue its expansion into the Twin Cities market, this time with a branch in Cottage Grove.

According to a filing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the bank applied to open a branch on the northwest corner of Hardwood Avenue South and 80th Street South in Cottage Grove.

Spokesperson Brian Hanover said in an email that the bank is "proud of our rapid growth across the Twin Cities metro" and added more details will be announced once the Cottage Grove branch receives full regulatory approval.

That branch would be the latest in the bank’s assertive expansion plan into the market. Earlier this year, local Chase executives outlined plans to open at least eight branches this year as part of its goal of opening more than 40 locations by 2025.

On May 12, the OCC approved the bank’s application to establish a second St. Paul branch on the southwest corner of University Avenue West and Hamline Avenue North. The same month, the bank also applied to the OCC to open its second Apple Valley branch — the existing branch is at 15103 Cedar Ave.

The New-York based bank has already opened branches this year in Stillwater, Savage and Bloomington, and applications to the OCC indicate plans for staffed branches in Shakopee and Chaska.

If approved, the Cottage Grove branch would put Chase’s branch count in the Twin Cities at 27. The first Chase branch was opened near the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus in 2019.

Here are Chase's confirmed branch addresses in order of opening date:

Largest Banks in the Twin Cities

Total deposits 2022

View this list