Big Lake seeks $25 million in state bonding for wastewater expansion; city says plant at 90% capacity
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Summary
Big Lake officials told the committee their wastewater plant is at about 90% capacity, limiting development; the city seeks $25,000,000 from the bonding bill toward a $52.8 million expansion and said without help residents face larger rate increases.
The City of Big Lake asked the House Capital Investment Committee for $25,000,000 in state bonding to help fund a $52,800,000 expansion of its wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor Paul Kinnear and city administrator Hannah Klimick testified that the plant is at roughly 90% capacity, curbing new residential and commercial development. "At 90% it won't be just too long before we will have to start telling developers no," Kinnear said. City leaders said the project would repair and replace structures and equipment, implement biosolids handling improvements and add treatment capacity.
Why it matters: Officials said the project cost is seven to eight times the community's annual budget and that without state assistance households could face steep rate increases. The city estimated a roughly 15% annual rate increase without help, rising from about $52 per month to approximately $83 per month; with assistance the city said it would be about $61 per month.
Phasing and prior funds: Klimick told the committee the city used a 2018 $1,000,000 appropriation for a wastewater facilities plan that was reviewed by the MPCA. City officials said their engineers advised that phasing this expansion would "drive the costs up," and that doing the work all at once is preferable.
Ending: Committee members asked for additional details such as number of residential units and business counts; the city said it would provide that information to staff. The city asked the committee to consider the request so local rate increases can remain "manageable and affordable for our residents."
