Minnetrista outlines $26 million water treatment plant plan to meet demand and new manganese standard

Mayor Lisa Whalen told residents Minnetrista needs a new water treatment plant to increase capacity, meet updated health standards and provide resilience for both drinking water and fire protection.

Whalen said the city currently operates near peak capacity and needs about 600 additional gallons per minute of treated water; planners propose building a plant sized to roughly 2,100 gallons per minute so the system will meet projected growth into about 2050.

Background and why it matters: Whalen cited the 2021 drought and high summer demands, steps the city has taken (a new 500,000‑gallon tower on Highway 7, a sod ordinance, a stormwater ordinance and a water‑conservation campaign) and a change in the Minnesota Department of Health’s manganese guidance that makes treatment necessary before well water can be distributed to vulnerable groups.

Planned work and timeline: The council reported design work began in 2024 and is expected to be finalized in mid‑2025, with a bid schedule around June–July 2025 and potential construction starting in fall 2025. Whalen said the treatment plant could be online in the latter part of 2027; rehabilitating the Kings Point water tower would then be scheduled afterward (potentially 2028) because the tower must be taken offline for refurbishment.

Cost and funding options: The estimated project cost is about $26,000,000, covering engineering, two new wells, the treatment plant (about 2,100 gpm), connecting trunk lines and construction management. If the city bonds the full amount, Whalen said annual bond payments could be roughly $1.8–$1.9 million. Minnetrista currently has about $14 million in outstanding water bonds with an existing annual payment near $1.3 million.

Whalen described three primary revenue buckets for the project: water user fees, area charges assessed to developers and connection fees from new homes. She said staff have discussed a proposed flat treatment‑plant fee of about $186 per household per quarter (the city compared the figure to a larger fee charged by nearby Minnetonka Beach), and noted options such as monthly billing or budget billing to smooth costs for residents. No final rate decisions or council votes were recorded at the town hall.

Other details: Two new supply wells are being drilled now and were expected to finish in May–June; the treatment plant site and an access road will be gated and for city and service use only. Officials said the proposed underground reservoir and building will be modest in appearance and that landscaping rather than expensive architecture is planned to reduce costs.

Financing risks and state help: City officials said they are pursuing state bonding but cautioned that the size of any bonding package is uncertain; they also explored federal options but described them as unlikely. Whalen described differences between a 20‑year and a 30‑year bond, noting that while a 30‑year bond reduces annual payments it increases total interest cost substantially and may not be prudent for a growing suburban community.

Next steps: Finalize design and go to bid in mid‑2025, continue drilling and well testing, refine rate proposals for council consideration and monitor state bonding outcomes. No formal council action or vote on the project funding was taken during the town‑hall session.