City updates council on Water Tower No. 3: site acquired, underground work completed; PSC approval pending

City staff told the New Richmond City Council that acquisition of the site for Water Tower No. 3 is complete, underground work for the booster station has been installed and the project design has received Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approval, though Public Service Commission approval is still pending.

Eric (staff) said the city finalized the lot purchase last week and showed a map locating the tower near the southern portion of the parcel, with a driveway access strip to the north. Staff also reported completing underground work associated with the booster station — sanitary sewer connections, storm sewer and drainage work, and some road work — to avoid later road reconstruction. The underground work, initially estimated largely as a $35,000 water main cost, amounted to about $85,000 once the other elements were included.

“All the underground work done at the Booster Station site means we don't have to tear up the road again,” Eric said, summarizing the cost‑saving intent. He noted the overall tower project cost remains at the original estimate and that the DNR has approved the design.

Eric said the next required regulatory step is PSC approval, which can be time consuming, and staff hope to advertise bids in late 2025 or early 2026 with construction to start in 2026 and likely finish in 2027.

Council members asked timing questions; staff reiterated the PSC process timeline is the primary schedule risk. No formal council action was required on the update.