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Council Authorizes Design Work for Failing CSAH 14 Water Main
Summary
City engineers flagged repeated breaks on a 1,900-foot stretch of water main and the council authorized Bolton & Mink Inc. to prepare plans and specifications ($77,600) to upsize the line from 6 to 12 inches; estimated construction cost is about $850,000 and staff recommended directional drilling to limit roadway disruption.
The Lake Elmo City Council authorized city staff to contract Bolton & Mink Inc. to prepare plans and specifications ($77,600) for water-main improvements on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 14.
City Engineer Nathan Stanley told council the roughly 1,900-foot stretch of main has deteriorated and experienced seven breaks in the last six years (five in the last three). Staff recommended upsizing the existing 6-inch main to a 12-inch main to provide redundancy and capacity for potential future redevelopment. Stanley said directional drilling would be used where feasible to maintain traffic and limit roadway impacts, with an estimated construction cost around $850,000 based on recent similar bids.
Stanley described a tentative schedule: authorize design tonight, approve plans in January, advertise for bids, receive bids and award a contract in February, and complete construction in late summer. Councilors asked whether the project was in the City’s CIP (it was not) and whether the Water Enterprise Fund could support the work. Staff said the project was intended to be funded by the Water Enterprise Fund and that the fund’s restricted balances historically support such work, but council requested follow-up verification of fund restrictions and balances.
Council also discussed alternatives such as pipe bursting. Stanley said pipe bursting was considered but staff prefer to relocate and upsize the main now to avoid future conflicts with planned county road improvements. After discussion, the council moved and approved the design authorization for Bolton & Mink Inc. by voice vote.
