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Council approves $167,302.27 pay application as water-plant options loom
Summary
Vernon Center approved Pay Application #13 for $167,302.27 for wastewater work and purchased a WWTP laptop; engineers told the council that a full membrane-based water-treatment plant would add roughly $1 million in equipment costs and that current filters (on year 27) may require rehabilitation if a new plant is delayed.
Vernon Center’s City Council on the regular meeting voted to approve Pay Application #13 for the city’s wastewater treatment project and discussed longer-term options for the water‑treatment plant.
Engineer Chris Knutson told the council Pay Application #13 covers work to date — mostly at the wastewater treatment plant — and said the payment is fully covered by the project bonding. Councilor Emily Edwards moved to approve the payment of $167,302.27; Councilor Wendy Bennett seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Knuts on noted the contractor will return next week to do overseeding and agreed to have cleanouts spray‑painted so staff can locate them. Clerk Kara Hansen presented two quotes for a laptop dedicated to the wastewater treatment plant; after recommended adjustments from Knutson, council approved the purchase at $2,044.61, including installation.
Engineer Eric Meester briefed the council on the water‑treatment‑plant (WTP) study. He said membrane systems would require cold-space and pre‑treatment to address iron and manganese, and described equipment costs as "roughly a million dollars." Mayor Dana Ziegler said adding a new building would increase initial cost by about $200,000. PW Supervisor Mark Willette said the city’s existing filters — with an expected life cycle of 15–20 years — are on year 27 and likely need rehabilitation if the council postpones a new plant.
Council also approved payment of a Nero Engineering invoice for $30,209.75 and adopted Resolution 2025‑13, transferring $30,100 from the Public Works Future Projects Fund (Fund 403) to the General Water Fund (Fund 601) to cover related expenses.
The council did not make a final decision on whether to build a new WTP or rehabilitate the current filters; Meester said equipment already purchased from Rushmore would have to be incorporated into either approach. The council asked staff to return with further cost details and scheduling options to guide a formal decision.
Next procedural steps: contractor overseeding at the WWTP is scheduled next week, staff will verify marked cleanouts, and engineering staff will provide refined cost and timing information for the WTP decision.
