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Little Falls approves sewer boring and $2,500 design work for splash pad project
Summary
The Little Falls City Council approved a $5,100 directional-drill sanitary sewer extension and authorized $2,500 in architectural design services for a planned splash pad, both charged to the park improvement fund. Council members discussed pipe size, test pits, and later bidding to reduce an earlier $400,000 estimate for restroom construction.
The Little Falls City Council voted Tuesday to approve a $5,100 quote from Elite Underground Inc. to extend sanitary sewer service to a planned splash pad and authorized $2,500 for architectural design services for a restroom facility, with both costs charged to the park improvement fund.
Council approval came after staff described the work and answered council questions about method and scope. The sewer work will use a directional drill instead of open trenching. "We're recommending that the council approve the quote from Elite Underground in the amount of $5,100 and that would be charged to the park improvement fund," said Greg, a city staff member. He added the work "it's the directional drill, the pipe that we're gonna be using to discharge our sanitary sewer. And it's about a 3 inch pipe, that they'll bore from where the splash pad is at over to, about 3 300 feet to where it needs to go." He said test pits will be required at both ends to confirm depths.
The council approved the Elite Underground quote (the low bid; Downright Boring bid $6,000) after a motion by Council Member Myers and a second by Mayor Zilka.
Separately, staff asked the council to hire Kevin Anderson for preliminary architectural services for the splash pad restroom. "We're asking the council to approve the services with Kevin Anderson who monitored $2,500 that we could charge the park improvement fund," Greg said. Mayor Zilka moved to approve the services; Council Member Hansen seconded the motion.
Council members pressed staff about costs and procurement. A council member asked whether the architectural work was intended to find a cheaper option than the previously estimated prefab/restroom approach; staff said the $2,500 design step is expected to allow for competitive bidding and material sourcing to reduce an earlier estimate of about $400,000 for a block-built restroom. Staff said the design will feed a later construction bidding process, and contractors will be able to propose alternate materials and suppliers to lower costs.
Action on both items was recorded as carried by roll call. Staff said subsequent project steps will include final design, formal bidding for construction, and coordination of required test pits and utility connections.
The council discussion and votes occurred during the regular City Council meeting; staff noted funding for both items would come from the park improvement fund and that additional construction expenditures will return to council for approval.
