Minnetrista considers metering interconnects with St. Bonifacius to speed tower maintenance

Minnetrista City staff told the council they will pursue metering of shared water interconnects with neighboring St. Bonifacius so both cities can better account for water flows, create usage credits, and potentially accelerate maintenance on the Kings Point water tower.

Staff said metered interconnects would let the cities quantify water moving between systems, information that the city needs for its water appropriation reports to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "We don't know how much water is going back and forth between the cities," a city engineer explained, noting that meters would improve reporting and reduce uncertainty in current accounting.

The city already installed one interconnect meter with St. Bonifacius in 2023 at an installed cost of roughly $46,000. Staff said they will evaluate whether all four shared interconnects require metering or whether one or two would be sufficient, and then prepare plans and cost estimates for additional installations. City staff said the work would require a future task order to the city's engineering consultant and that Minnetrista would pay construction and engineering costs up front.

Council and staff described a potential financial trade: if Minnetrista pays to install meters and then draws St. Bonifacius water in emergencies, the arrangement could result in usage credits or an accounting settlement over a defined period. Staff said any interconnect agreement would likely include a sunset clause to reconcile usage after a number of years.

Meters and better interconnection accounting are tied to a larger capital decision: Minnetrista staff said improving interconnect capacity could allow the city to expedite planned maintenance on the Kings Point water tower, currently scheduled for 2028. Staff presented a preliminary inspection that recommends maintenance within a year and estimated repainting and interior repairs at approximately $900,000; councilmembers discussed the possibility of moving work closer to 2026 if interconnect credits and financing permit.

Council gave staff approval to proceed with planning and a future task order; no construction or contract award was authorized at the work session.

Next steps: staff will task the engineering consultant to scope meter placement, produce plans and cost estimates, and return with a recommended installation schedule and proposed interconnect agreement terms.