Minnetrista City Council approves plans for $20 million water treatment plant

The Minnetrista City Council on June 16 approved plans and specifications for a new water treatment plant and authorized staff to advertise for construction bids, voting 4-0.

The approval comes after a presentation from Jasper, city staff, who summarized 90% plans and described the facility as approximately a 2,100-gallons-per-minute plant with an estimated 700,000-gallon clear well sited near the Woodland Cove neighborhood. "It's one of the largest expenditures I think we've ever seen as a community," Jasper told the council, and engineers' current estimate is about $20 million with a recommended contingency of roughly $500,000.

Why it matters: council and staff said the schedule is timed to bring the plant online before peak summer demand. If the project proceeds as presented, staff would advertise for bids July 8, open bids Aug. 7 and present a recommendation to council on Aug. 18; notice to proceed was estimated for mid-September and construction would begin in October with final completion projected for May 2, 2028.

Council members asked about the number of expected bidders and the budget range. Jasper said staff expects three to six companies to bid and noted bid results could change the contingency and final project cost. The presentation identified required regulatory and regional approvals; Jasper listed the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Health, the Miniatic Creek Wershed District and the Met Council as agencies involved in later permitting and review.

Votes at a glance: the council adopted the meeting agenda and approved the consent agenda and the water treatment plant plans during the meeting. The consent agenda (items A–J) included approving work-session and regular meeting minutes, a temporary liquor license for the Northwest Tonka Lions, the Bayside Lane retaining-wall license and maintenance agreement, A2S task order 16 for corrosion control, claims, and several CIP equipment awards including a resolution identified as 60-25.

The council recorded the water plant motion on a motion moved by Miss Refkin and seconded by Mr. Govern; council approved the motion 4-0. After the vote the mayor noted one council member, Peter Vickery, was absent.

Council members and staff said they will return with final bid information and a contract recommendation if bids are received in line with estimates. The council did not alter the presented schedule at the June 16 meeting.