Waverly council approves $26,000 stormwater pond assessment to guide dredging and grant planning

Waverly — The City Council on May 12 authorized a $26,000 stormwater pond assessment aimed at creating an inventory and prioritized plan for dredging and long-term maintenance.

City Engineer Sheila Krohse told the council the study would have field crews using kayaks and GPS to survey about 38 ponds, measure sediment accumulation and produce cost estimates that would allow the city to apply for grants and plan future budgets. Krohse said the work would also provide liability protection and data needed to consider future adjustments to stormwater utility rates. The proposal from Bolton & Menk is $26,000 and can be funded from the city’s unused engineering budget, she said.

Council approved the authorization by motion (m/s/p Duske/Jacobson). Krohse also tied the assessment to broader water infrastructure planning, noting that without baseline data “the city cannot meaningfully budget for or seek grants to address any pond maintenance.”

The assessment is expected to produce a prioritized list of ponds and cost estimates for dredging where necessary, information city staff said will be used for grant applications and capital planning. Council members pressed for prioritization criteria during discussion and were told the consultant would provide a ranked list by condition and cost.

Next steps: Bolton & Menk will begin the field survey work, and staff will incorporate the assessment results into future budget discussions and grant-seeking efforts. The council did not set a follow-up hearing date specific to the ponds, but the work is intended to inform the next budget cycle.