Grafton council moves to pursue talks with Walsh Rural Water, approves $96,200 water system study

The Grafton City Council on Feb. 10 voted to pursue further conversations with Walsh Rural Water about a potential regional raw-water supply and approved a $96,200 Water System Study with Moore Engineering.

Administrator Nick Ziegelmann told the council he and Brian Reilly, manager of Walsh Rural Water, began discussions about sourcing raw water alternatives to the Red River. Geoff Slick, an engineer with AE2S, described a Park River Water Plant option that would add eight wells to a joint powers aquifer system and pump via new pipelines. Slick said the joint powers system now has 10 wells at about 200 gallons per minute each; the proposed additions would provide about 2,100 gallons per minute to Grafton and about 1,200 gpm to Park River.

Slick said it is “favorable that $17–$19 million in Federal funds will be available and State funding of $9–$10 million,” noting that combination would cover the bulk of the project and leaving what he estimated as a Grafton local share of $2,038,800. City Attorney Rob Fleming asked whether the local share was subject to negotiation; Slick said allocation would be determined by the Joint Powers Board and was based on capacity assumptions.

Council member Brad Burianek asked whether the change would save money on chemical treatment. Water Superintendent Tom Dusek replied that Walsh Water is a cleaner, more stable source than the Red River’s surface water, and that treating an aquifer source would be less expensive and avoid surface-water treatment regulations.

The council also approved a Memorandum of Commitment for the Red River Valley Water Supply project, nominating 2 cubic feet per second on condition the Project Participation Agreement includes the assurance policy. That memorandum was approved on the Public Utilities Committee recommendation.

Kyle Myer of Moore Engineering described the proposed Water System Study for $96,200, noting $3,000 previously approved in December is ineligible for cost share and that a 60% cost-share grant application (about $55,920) has been submitted to the state. The study will assess the entire distribution system, identify mains needing replacement and system deficiencies, and inform design and funding requests for the project’s next phases. The council voted to approve the Moore Engineering agreement.

The motion to move forward with conversations with Walsh Rural Water was moved by Council member Brad Burianek and seconded by Council member Kylen Kostrzewski. Roll-call votes showed Burianek, Kostrzewski, Donavon McMillian, Loree Osowski and Greg Young voting in favor; Mayor Chris West declared the motion carried.

Next steps identified in the meeting record include continuing technical and financing discussions with Walsh Rural Water and advancing the Water System Study and related state funding applications. The record does not set a binding local contribution; allocations would be determined later by the Joint Powers Board and through formal agreements.