Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vernon Center council approves $4,972 change order, weighs sewer-lateral compliance and MPCA borings
Summary
The council approved a $4,972 Change Order for concrete work at the WWTP, discussed options for sewer-lateral lining and compliance with a 2015 ordinance change, addressed a resident’s sump-pump complaint, and heard that MPCA-ordered soil borings near a former petroleum site may remain open until autumn.
The Vernon Center City Council approved Change Order #4 for concrete work around manholes and valves at the wastewater treatment plant, voting to pay $4,972 and allowing the contractor and engineer to adjust pricing by measured square footage when the work is performed.
Engineer Knutson outlined several infrastructure topics for the council: using PFA grant money for a new WWTP laptop and flow-meter software (he recommended grant funds over the USDA-RD loan), preparing bidding documents for water and wastewater improvements for USDA-RD review by month-end with an estimated 60-day award timeline, and preliminary jetter equipment cost estimates between $25,000 and $35,000 depending on new or used equipment and mounting preferences.
On sewer lateral compliance, Acting-Mayor Lisa Peterson and PW Supervisor Mark Willette discussed properties that were compliant under a 2015 project but no longer meet a revised ordinance requiring laterals to be replaced to the stack. Peterson directed Clerk Kara Hansen to add a column indicating 2015 compliance and to merge the SSS financing spreadsheet into a new applicant list; the council tabled broader policy decisions to a future work study.
PW Supervisor Willette and Engineer Knutson recommended trenchless lining for sewer services when the lines are clean and noted lining can meet compliance similarly to installing a new lateral; Clerk Hansen will draft a contractor form requiring televised inspections before and after lining.
Clerk Hansen also reported a citizen complaint (Citizen Concern 2025-01) that a sump pump has been running since the 2023 project began. Engineer Knutson and Willette said the water is likely groundwater and that the storm/drain tile cannot be hooked to the sanitary sewer as the resident requested. Willette raised concern about soil borings near the former Urban Oil site done for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and said the MPCA contact would not disclose findings and indicated the case may remain open until autumn; he recommended stopping drain tile upstream to avoid potential petroleum runoff into the storm sewer. Acting-Mayor Peterson tabled MPCA-related action until the next meeting.
The council also approved sending two Fire Department vehicles (a 1992 Ford tanker and a 1988 1-ton truck) out for sealed bids in time for a pancake breakfast; the motion passed with Councilor Adam Finney abstaining.
Councilors did not adopt immediate new policy decisions on sewer-lateral compliance during the meeting but requested consolidation of financing and compliance information for future work-study review.
