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Foley council approves pay estimate for wastewater project as decommissioning costs remain uncertain
Summary
The Foley City Council approved pay estimate No. 27 for the wastewater project — $144,693.92 to the contractor listed in meeting materials — while staff said the project is about 99% complete and that decommissioning the old Birch ponds could cost an estimated $2 million to $2.5 million pending MPCA and PFA eligibility determinations.
Foley, Minn. — The Foley City Council on Jan. 6 approved pay estimate No. 27 for the citywastewater project and heard staff describe next steps for decommissioning the old Birch ponds.
Jared Vogi, introduced in the meeting as from Bolton Mink, told the council the pay estimate in the packet is $144,693.92 and that the construction contract is roughly 99% complete. "By way of the pay estimate ... we are down to approximately 1% of the contract remaining," Vogi said, and recommended the council approve the payment.
Council members moved and seconded approval; the voice vote carried with no roll-call tally provided in the meeting transcript.
Vogi said staff are still finalizing quantities and punch-list items on the St. Cloud end of the system and that testing continues to ensure chemical dosing addresses hydrogen sulfide and other water-quality issues. He said the contract appears roughly $500,000 under budget, which "will help with the decommissioning."
On decommissioning, staff reported they will meet with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to review the compliance schedule and that the process will include removing pond water and bio-solids. "One of the items outstanding ... is how much of the portion of the decommissioning would be PFA eligible under the existing loan," Vogi said. He offered a high-level budget estimate of "somewhere between two and two and a half million" for decommissioning the ponds, but stressed eligibility and final costs will depend on MPCA and the state financing authority determinations.
Council members asked about timing for final pay applications and punch-list work; staff said weather-dependent work to remove the existing outfall is likely in spring and that final pay paperwork and lien waivers could push final payment into June or July.
Next steps: staff will meet with the MPCA to clarify the compliance schedule and seek guidance on what decommissioning costs are eligible for state financing; the council will review any additional information at a future meeting.
