Thief River Falls council approves water-plant bid advertising, hires facility assessor and OKs elevator repairs

The Thief River Falls City Council voted to move forward on several infrastructure items, approving a package of maintenance and compliance actions that city staff said are needed to prevent more costly failures.

Council authorized staff to advertise for bids to reroof the city’s water treatment plant and set the bid opening for May 21, 2026, at 2 p.m.; staff said the project is already included in the city’s capital improvement plan and will be bonded together with planned intake and pump rehabilitation work. "This project's been in our capital improvement plan," a staff member said, adding the water intake pump and activated carbon feed projects will come forward next month.

The council also voted to hire Kraus Anderson to perform a facility condition assessment of the historic Depot building and the Carnegie Library at a cost of $9,700. Staff said the assessment will produce timelines for mechanical, electrical and structural components and help the city budget and pursue grant funding for future repairs.

On an immediate public-safety compliance issue, the council approved a $24,000 contract with Lee’s Plumbing and Heating to install a drain and explosion‑proof sump arrangement for an elevator shaft that has repeatedly accumulated water. According to staff, standard sump pumps cannot be placed in elevator shafts because of explosion risk related to potential hydraulic-fluid contamination; the work will require cutting concrete, excavating 5–6 feet, routing a new drain and securing plumbing approvals.

Council members pressed staff on funding and timelines. "We have a 60‑day requirement to submit a plan of action to the inspector," a staff member said; the contractor work was projected to occur in mid to late summer. The motions carried by voice vote. The city will apply for available grants and use reserve building funds if grant requests are not granted.