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Council approves preliminary design work for wastewater plant; consultant says project ranks high for state funding
Summary
Council approved consideration of a preliminary design agreement with MSA Professional Services for wastewater treatment plant improvements. MSA’s Tom Dy told the council the project ranks about 11 on the state priority list, improving the city’s chances for CIG and bonding funds, and noted a $5,000 grant-navigator opportunity to help secure grants.
EVELETH — The Eveleth City Council moved on Oct. 6 to advance preliminary design work for upgrades to the city wastewater treatment plant, and heard an optimistic funding update from the consultant on the project’s prospects for state grant and bond money.
Tom Dy of MSA Professional Services told the council that the preliminary design scope includes topographic surveying, site visits by mechanical, electrical and architectural engineers, process definition work and hazardous-material surveys; a geotechnical soil boring would be billed directly to the city and is not included in the consultants’ fee. "What's in your packet is a proposal for the preliminary design for the wastewater treatment plan improvements," Dy said, describing the work needed to move from a facilities plan to final design.
Dy also described the project’s standing on the state project priority list: "The project ranks very high. It's number 11 out of I don't know 300 projects or something on the list," he said, framing that ranking as a boost to the city’s chances of securing CIG grant funds and potential state bonding. He added that a small 'grant navigator' program — a one-time $5,000 award for consultant help — could fund work to pursue additional grants.
Councilors had no substantive technical questions during the presentation. The council voted to consider the MSA proposal so staff can advance the design phase and then return with the final contract details and any required amendments for later approval.
Why it matters: Upgrading the wastewater treatment plant is a multi-year capital project with infrastructure, regulatory and public-health implications; securing state grant or bonding dollars would reduce the local funding burden and speed work that the city says is needed.
What happens next: Staff will proceed with the preliminary design authorization, clarify exclusions (notably the geotech bore) and return with any amended agreement for final approval as design work moves forward.
