Fairview council approves well-construction contract, authorizes city manager to sign
Summary
The council approved Resolution 23‑2025 on July 2 to authorize the city manager to execute a contract for the new well construction project; funding will draw from multiple sources including URA, Water SDCs and a Safe Drinking Water revolving loan with a $280,000 grant, and staff said the project is needed to address long‑term water supply.
The Fairview City Council voted to adopt Resolution 23‑2025 on July 2, authorizing the city manager to execute a construction contract for a municipal well and related facilities. John, the city’s Public Works director, told the council the project derives from the city’s 2016 water master plan and has completed land‑use approvals and design work.
Staff reported the procurement process produced a single qualified bidder—More Excavation, Inc.—and that the low bid exceeded the engineer’s estimate by about $255,000. Funding sources identified in the staff report include the city’s URA (up to a 20% contribution), water system development charges (SDCs), the water fund capital program and a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan; staff said the loan includes a roughly $280,000 grant component. Public Works noted the anticipated loan repayment, if construction completes on the assumed schedule, would begin December 1 after the final construction year and estimated annual repayment at about $90,000 using a 30‑year amortization at 1.82%.
Public Works briefed council on the project site—a roughly one‑acre parcel south of a local church—and said the bid award and contract execution would allow construction to proceed in the coming 18–24 months. Council members asked for details about vegetation removal, stormwater features and site access; staff said the project includes fencing and storm facilities and that staff would report further design clarifications as construction proceeds.
Councilors voted to authorize the city manager to execute the contract and to appropriate the budget amendment needed to accept the bid; staff will include the project in next year’s budget development to address the bid‑to‑estimate shortfall. Public Works said this project is intended to address a long‑identified water‑supply shortfall tied to planned city build‑out and deferred water‑system investments.
The resolution passed by voice vote; staff will provide budgetary updates as the project moves toward construction.
