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Greenfield mayor tells committee aging sewer plant needs $11–20M replacement or regional solution
Summary
Greenfield officials told the Capital Investment Committee their 25-year-old wastewater plant is failing, with replacement estimates rising from $6.9 million to $11–20 million; the city proposes regionalization with neighboring towns to reduce costs and asked for state bonding support.
Representative Robbins presented House file (testimony referenced HF 4680) seeking state capital funding for Greenfield’s wastewater needs. Mayor Nick Rail said about 95% of Greenfield currently relies on private septic systems and that the city’s treatment system — roughly 25 years old — is failing, creating safety concerns and a risk of environmental discharge to the Crow River and the Mississippi.
He said an initial replacement estimate of $6.9 million grew to between $11 million and $20 million after a facility plan study. The city has identified a regionalized alternative that could use neighboring cities’ existing infrastructure to reduce capital costs and keep the project closer to the earlier estimate, but that solution requires coordination and approvals from partner city councils.
Committee members asked for clarification about the regional approach. Proponents said other cities have existing facilities and discussions are ongoing; Representative Robbins emphasized the project is a necessity to protect public health and to support planned housing development in western Hennepin County. No formal vote occurred during the hearing.
