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Wasilla council and staff clarify Herman Road water tower, interconnect design work and ARPA funding
Summary
City staff explained how ARPA and state funds are being used for design and initial construction related to the Herman Road water tower and interconnect project and said the design phase would identify alignments and benchmarks before larger construction spending.
City staff told the Wasilla City Council that initial design and procurement steps are under way for an interconnect project and the Herman Road water tower and mainline extension, and that much of the near-term budgeted money is intended to advance design and staging rather than to fund a full build-out immediately.
In committee of the whole, staff described two active requests for proposals: one for design work on the interconnect project (about $1.8 million) and another tied to the Herman Road mainline and tower (about $2.1 million). Staff said the $2.1 million is encumbered and targeted to bring a mainline up to the new Herman Road water tower site.
"That gets us, as much of the connection as we can build the well, we're we're gonna quantify that," staff member Eric said in response to council members asking how far the available money would reach. Staff emphasized the work will produce design alternatives and benchmarks for council review before larger decisions on alignment and additional funding.
Council members asked whether the city had to pick a single alignment and whether the large, longer-term options (one staff member called a roughly $40 million scenario) were on the table now; staff replied they are pursuing the least-cost connection that meets service needs and that the project will be phased. Staff also said grant money previously approved by council for the Herman Road work has been earmarked but not yet attached to purchase orders or contracts.
Staff said the Herman Road allocation would also cover a well-drilling and the tower build if estimates hold and that there is existing appropriated funding (about $2.7 million previously allocated) that would be available to advance the tower and connection. Staff said estimates assume approximately $1,000 per linear foot for water main all-in, and that final costs will be reported as design milestones are reached.
Council members requested greater detail about route options, linear feet, and a granular breakdown of how the current encumbrances and appropriations would be applied to the tower and mainline; staff said they will return with a detailed funding breakdown and a timeline tied to design reports and permitting.
