Long Prairie council authorizes engineering work and PFA funding application for water tower and plant upgrades

Mayor Jodi Dixon and the Long Prairie City Council authorized engineering work and a funding application Monday to advance a pair of water‑system projects after engineers flagged a reliability risk.

Representatives from Bolton & Menk, engineer Kent Louwagie and project manager Jenny Selchow, presented the planned Main Lift Station and water tower rehabilitation. They said the city’s water plant also needs minor repairs and recommended adding a backup generator to the water treatment plant and tower project so the city would not be left without water if the tower is offline and power is lost during rehabilitation.

After the presentation Mayor Dixon moved and Council member Clint Krueger seconded motions authorizing Bolton & Menk to obtain quotes for generator procurement and to determine water‑plant improvements. The council also approved a motion directing Bolton & Menk to apply for Public Facilities Authority (PFA) funding for a combined project that would include the water tower rehabilitation and water plant upgrades; both motions passed.

The engineers emphasized the generator as a contingency to maintain service during rehabilitation; specific costs and a grant-award timetable were not provided. Bolton & Menk will obtain quotes and return with recommended bid or funding options for council consideration.

The council’s authorization does not itself fund construction; it allows the city to seek PFA funds and collect vendor pricing so the council can consider contract awards and final scope in future meetings.