Sherburn council hears proposal to pursue state grant for sewer-lining project

At the Jan. 5 Sherburn City Council meeting, Bolton representative Travis Winter outlined a sewer-lining project that could be positioned for state loan/grant funding through the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA).

Winter said the project — a lining approach for clay-tile sewer mains and service laterals — could cost roughly $500,000–$600,000. He said the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) and the PFA would be asked to certify the project, and that engineering plans and specifications would need to be completed and submitted by the project certification deadline in March. Winter estimated plans and specs would cost no more than $43,000; engineering costs and those preparatory expenditures would be eligible for reimbursement through a loan/grant package if the project receives funding.

Winter said lining (using fiberglass-reinforced t-liners) is noninvasive to the street surface and addresses service laterals as well as mains. He described the project as timely because previous facility-plan work positions Sherburn to score highly on PFA evaluations. He cautioned there is no guarantee of grant awards and that, if funds are not available this cycle, the work to prepare plans would still be useful for a later application.

Council members asked staff to consult bond counsel about funding and to report back before deciding to spend up‑front engineering dollars; no binding commitment to purchase plans or to start construction was made at the meeting. Winter said, if approved for planning, the work could be submitted for the March certification cycle with construction possible in 2026 if grant financing materializes.

The council did approve Bolton's general-services contract at the same meeting, allowing the firm to execute task orders for future scope work as needed.