Boone council approves new force-main route, upsizes main to 16 inches after Daisy flow update

Boone City Council voted to submit a revised facility-plan application to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for a new force-main route tied to the Daisy industrial site and to specify a 16-inch main rather than the previously planned 12-inch pipe.

The decision follows new information from Daisy showing its minimum equalized flow would be about 2,100 gallons per minute (gpm), higher than the roughly 1,300 gpm figure used in the city’s earlier facility plan. City public works staff said increasing the main to 16 inches would cost an additional about $150,000 but would roughly double capacity for the industrial area without requiring a larger force-main structure at the pump station.

The council’s action adopts “option 3,” a route that takes the force main toward Highway 30 and down along the edge of a park to minimize disruption in residential streets, staff said. Staff estimated the recommended route and associated work at roughly $1.6 million and recommended submitting the 16-inch main as the preferred alternative to the DNR.

Why it matters: the city must update the facility plan and secure DNR approval before bidding construction. Staff also said an anti-degradation report tied to the wastewater project went out for public notice the same day and will be subject to a 30-day public comment period; the facility plan cannot be finalized until that report is approved.

City staff described three options for managing the higher flows: 1) a short route upsizing existing gravity mains in town (staff called this very disruptive and highest cost); 2) running the line along an east residential corridor (also disruptive); and 3) the recommended route to Highway 30 that avoids dense residential streets and future conflict points such as a potential roundabout at Sneddon and Highway 30. Staff noted some route refinements remain possible because of soil conditions and potential future intersections.

Staff said the city will provision the pump station structure so it can accept larger pumps if the 16-inch main is installed, limiting future upgrades to pump replacements rather than replacing station structures. A city official said horizontal directional drilling would be used for road crossings to minimize long closures.

Council action and next steps: a motion to submit the option 3 alignment with a 16-inch main to the DNR passed on a roll call; members present recorded affirmative votes. Staff will resubmit the facility plan, respond to any DNR questions, and monitor the public comment period on the anti-degradation report.

Discussion vs. decision: council members spent substantial time at the Utility Committee reviewing the options; the committee recommended option 3 with a 16-inch main. The council formally approved staff’s recommendation and directed staff to proceed with the DNR submittal.

Costs and clarifications: staff gave a $1.6 million cost estimate for the recommended route and noted the $150,000 increment for upsizing the main to 16 inches. The lower-capacity scenario (12-inch) would have limited future industrial expansion; staff emphasized the 16-inch alternative provides longer-term capacity for the Daisy area without repeated major pipe work.

There were no amendments to the motion on the council floor and no recorded dissents at the roll call.

Ending: staff will return with DNR responses and any required plan revisions after the public comment period on the anti-degradation report.