Council authorizes design for I‑94 lift station force main replacement after repeated breaks

After repeated failures of a force main that serves a large portion of Lake Elmo, the City Council on April 1 authorized staff to develop plans and specifications and approved design and geotechnical contracts to replace the I‑94 lift station force main.

City engineering staff said the existing force main has suffered seven breaks since October 2023. Presenters described visible fatigue in an 8‑inch SDR‑26 PVC pipe and said investigations by multiple specialists and the manufacturer suggested material fatigue possibly worsened by the depth and repeated pressure transients. Staff said they have adjusted pump-start sequencing, added automated pressure gauges, and installed relays and delay timers to prevent pumps starting at the same moment, but breaks continued.

Staff described the proposed work as replacing roughly 3,000 feet of force main to connect to the Metropolitan Council discharge point near the Oakdale border. The council heard that Met Council plans to construct a new manhole later this year that would allow a gravity discharge at the tie-in point once the city’s new line is in place. The city will run the new line adjacent to the existing line and abandon the old pipe in place.

The council authorized task order number 27 for design engineering services to be provided by Bolton and Mink, Inc., in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $109,537 and authorized the city administrator to execute a geotechnical services contract in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $30,000. Earlier in the meeting the council also approved an increase in the SEH, Inc. design‑services contract in the amount of $9,000 and authorized a materials‑testing contract with Braun Intertech not to exceed $10,000 (a council member recused themself from discussion of that motion because of an employer conflict). The design and geotechnical approvals were advanced from the city’s capital improvement program because staff characterized the current pipe condition as critical.

Council members asked staff to return design findings and recommendations when available. Councilmember Holtz requested that staff share the evaluation of alternative pipe materials and the design recommendations in a form the council can review; staff said the design process will include evaluation of pipe type and installation approach and that the replacement will not be the same material currently in the ground.

Entitlements and permits expected for the project include county review and an MnDOT permit because portions of the project lie in MnDOT right of way. Staff said the city’s prior permit for a related discharge point expires at the end of the year, making the current window to act time sensitive.

Council approved the design and geotechnical task orders on a voice vote and directed staff to return with bid‑ready documents in late May or early June with a goal of awarding a construction contract midsummer and completing construction this fall.