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Mendota council approves water-distribution plans, agrees to cover costs beyond $650,000 grant
Summary
The Mendota City Council on Sept. 10 approved water-distribution project plans tied to a $650,000 state bonding grant and authorized the city to pay any costs exceeding that grant; the vote was 5-0. The project will require easements, road closures and coordination with multiple agencies.
The Mendota City Council on Sept. 10 approved plans for a water-distribution project and passed a resolution authorizing the city to pay any costs that exceed a $650,000 grant from the 2020 state bonding bill. Mayor Mielke made the motion and Council Member Golias seconded; the measure passed unanimously, 5-0.
Engineer Lucas Jones outlined the project and the funding timeline, noting the grant must be encumbered by Dec. 31, 2024 to remain available. Lucas Jones said the city reviewed four routing options and "selected the route that provided an additional loop, just in case something happened to the water on Highway 13," a redundancy the council favored to preserve service to all residences.
Council members heard that the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) requires several items before encumbrance: funding forms, evidence of total project funding (including how shortfalls will be covered), Minnesota Department of Health plan and specification review, as‑bid project costs and a PFA agreement. The council was told it must interim finance the pre-agreement work before PFA encumbrance; once funds are encumbered the city will have five years to complete construction and may request reimbursements dating back to Oct. 20, 2020.
Project impacts described to the council included full roadway replacement where disturbed, a 20‑foot-wide tree clearing on the bluff corridor (Windy Ridge Place to 2nd Street), tree trimming along driveways, bedrock encountered as shallow as 2 feet in sections of the pipe corridor, temporary street closures (including a two‑week closure of Second Street west of Upper D Street and a one‑week D Street closure), a planned single‑lane reduction on Highway 13 with flaggers for two days, and a one‑week detour of the Big Rivers Trail to Highway 13. Staff said a property purchase or easement is needed on the segment between Upper D and Lower D Street and that Lucky’s parking and lot access will be affected during construction.
Council approved a motion asking the city to accept MSA’s plans and to adopt a resolution to pay any amount over the $650,000 grant. The motion was moved by Mayor Mielke and seconded by Council Member Golias and carried 5-0.
Next steps noted at the meeting include coordinating with Dakota County for the trail crossing, St Paul Regional Water (which will supply the water), the Minnesota Department of Health and MnDOT for the Highway 13 connection, and moving toward a recommended October 2024 bid date so contracting can proceed over November and December.
