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Small towns press committee for bonding and grants to fix wells, tanks and water lines
Summary
Multiple rural Minnesota cities told the House Capital Investment Committee on March 20 that aging or contaminated water systems threaten public safety and that state support is needed for wells, tank repairs and municipal hookups. Requests included PFAS remediation support, underground storage and municipal water extensions.
Local officials from Sauk Rapids, Kennedy, Andover, Dassel/Cokato and Biscay urged the House Capital Investment Committee on March 20 to approve bonding and grants to fix drinking‑water systems strained by contamination, age and limited local tax bases.
Why it matters: Witnesses said failing water infrastructure threatens daily service and firefighting capacity, and in some places PFAS contamination has forced wells offline. Speakers described limited local budgets and argued state support is necessary to avoid dramatic tax increases or long disruptions.
Sauk Rapids: Ross Olsen, city administrator for Sauk Rapids, said two wells exceeded health guidance for PFAS and that the city shut those wells for safety. “I’m here to request $3,600,000,” Olsen said, describing the money as roughly half the drilling cost for a new well and associated engineering to restore capacity. He said losing two of five wells strained the city’s low‑pressure system and required expedited work to restore capacity.
Kennedy (House File 603): Melissa Wojnarowicz, city clerk for Kennedy, described a 2017 water‑tower failure that left the town on a temporary direct feed. She said the city proposed booster station work and repairs to underground storage tanks, with a total estimated cost of $2,696,000 and that grant funding already secured was insufficient for completion. “Access to safe, affordable, and reliable water is not a luxury,” Wojnarowicz told the committee, adding that hydrants are unusable and volunteer firefighters had only 6–10 minutes of water for suppression.
Andover (House File 2080): Mayor Jamie Barthel requested $8,000,000 from state bond proceeds to extend municipal water to 96 properties in the Red Oaks neighborhood whose private wells tested above Minnesota Department of Health guidance for PFAS. Sarah Cotton, city administrator, explained that $6,000,000 would be bond‑eligible for mains while $2,000,000 would be non‑bondable costs (service connections and well capping) and thus require a different cash source.
Dassel/Cokato (House File 1968): Testimony from Kevin Wilson (city council) and Superintendent Mark Raymond described a cooperative school campus relying on wells. The city seeks $419,000 (testimony) to connect the school to municipal water and relieve the district of water‑treatment responsibilities.
Biscay (House File 228): Mayor Gary Cook and city engineer Tim Corby said Biscay’s water system is over 80 years old, repeatedly leaks and operates at a negative water account balance. Corby estimated a project cost equating to about $70,000 per household and said the town planned to apply to the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) for additional assistance.
Committee members asked about matching dollars and bondability. Witnesses described layered funding strategies including state bonds, PFA and federal grants and local levies. Several presenters urged prompt state action to avoid cost escalation.
The hearing was informational; committee members did not vote on any funding at the session.
