Council approves replacement of failing lift-station pump, funds to come from sewer/water fund

Rice Lake — The city council voted to replace a failing submersible pump at lift station 10, opting for a new unit rather than a repair that staff said carried higher short-term risk and only a 90-day warranty.

Staff described two options: rebuild and repair the existing 2008-era pump for a lower upfront cost but with higher risk of subsequent failures and minimal warranty; or purchase a new pump with a five-year municipal warranty and an expected longer service life. Staff estimated replacement lead time at about 10–12 weeks and said the purchase would be paid from the sewer and water proprietary fund cash on hand because it was an unbudgeted item.

Councilors weighed the trade-offs. One councilor said that when the repair cost approaches half the replacement price, replacement is the better option; staff confirmed the proprietary fund holds cash available for such emergency or unbudgeted purchases. Councilors also discussed temporary mitigation if the pump failed while a replacement was on order — options included emergency pumping services used during prior power outages.

Counselor Henderson moved to approve the replacement and Counselor Qu seconded. The motion passed.

The council did not provide a roll-call vote on the record; staff said the replacement will proceed and noted the lead time for procurement and installation.

Next steps: staff will proceed with ordering and scheduling installation and will manage interim operational contingencies if the station becomes inoperative before the new pump arrives.