In 2020, the Minnesota Legislature included $2 million for replacement of the roof of the historic Hastings City Hall dome and the entire city hall.

In the years since, Hastings city staff has had difficulty finding a contractor to take on the task.

After bidding the project twice and getting no takers, the third time was the charm. The city council unanimously approved a bid totaling $3,294,805 for the roof replacement with Renaissance Roofing. The project will also include $9,990 for repairing and gilding the gold top dome of the roof while scaffolding is in place. That work will have a 30-year lifetime, compared to 15 years if it was just painted gold.

“The project will take time due to the nature of the work and the heights involved,” City Planner Justin Fortney wrote in a memo to the city council.

Renaissance will start the project this winter “With investigation, sample harvesting and establishment of an off-site sheet metal production shop,” according to Fortney.

Scaffolding will be installed in the spring, and the project will be complete by July 2025.

Renaissance is based in Belvedere, IL, and their bid came with many positive references from similar projects.

Because it’s so specialized, it was difficult to find one of the few firms that does this type of renovation until now.

“As you know, this building is old. It’s challenging,” said Community Development Director John Hinzman.

Of the bid, he said, “It’s a big number, a little larger number than, frankly, we expected at the beginning of this one, but the numbers that we have seen from the individuals that we’ve spoken to in combination with the constructions costs that have been occurring, leads us to recommend approval of this.”

The council also unanimously approved changes in the contract with its consultant for the city hall renovation project, Miller Dunwiddie Inc., for $22,670 for HVAC design that combines the city hall-police department heating plants into one and $24,030 for drawings and bidding work for the roofing project.

City engineer/public works director contract change

The city has contracted with an outside firm, Focus Engineer, for the services of City Engineer/Public Works Director Ryan Stempski. Because of changes at that firm, Stempski resigned and is now employed by WSB & Associates. The council unanimously approved an agreement with WSB that keeps Stempski at the city in his “embedded” position.

Stempski has served as city engineer since 2015 and was named interim public works director in 2021. In March of this year, the interim tag was dropped.

City Administrator Dan Wietecha said Stempski performs vital services for the city.

“He has experience with the city and our Public Works Department, with several ongoing and major projects (PFAS, Hwy 61, wastewater treatment plant), and with our partner organizations (MNDOT, Met Council, Dakota County),” said Wietecha.

“Ryan, in his commitment to Hastings, proposed changing his employment relationship from Focus to another company, WSB. We’re proposing an agreement here tonight so that he could continue in his role as our public works director. We really appreciate that commitment from Ryan. We have some important work going on. I’m just glad and grateful he’ll be a part of it,” said Wietecha.

Wietecha said the contract will be in the same price range as the previous one, and the council unanimously approved it.

“This is wonderful news,” said Councilmember Lisa Leifeld.

“Thank you, Ryan, for all your hard work,” said Councilmember Tina Folch.