Eagle Lake wins $1.05M federal award, council greenlights lobbyist and advocacy trip to press for remaining water-plant funding

Eagle Lake officials announced the city has been awarded $1,050,000 in federal funding for its planned water treatment plant and moved to bolster state- and federal-level advocacy to secure the additional money necessary to complete the project.

Administrator Jennifer Bromeland told the City Council that communications from U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith indicated the $1,050,000 federal award. She said the city still needs more funding to finish the project and that continued advocacy will be important.

To press the case this spring, the council unanimously approved a contract with Capitol Hill Associates for government-relations services at a proposed 2026 cost of $18,000. Bromeland said the city first engaged a government-relations firm in 2024 and spent $20,000 in 2025; the proposed 2026 engagement is intended to increase legislative attention on Eagle Lake’s request.

Council members also authorized Mayor John Whitington, Council Member Beth Rohrich and Administrator Bromeland to attend the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C., March 16–18 to meet with members of Congress and agency officials. The estimated cost per attendee is $2,830 to cover registration, lodging and airfare.

Bromeland told the council the city’s 2025 state funding request for the water treatment plant totaled $7,077,000 and that Representative Luke Frederick has identified Eagle Lake’s request as his House priority for bonding consideration. She said the city’s focus in the current session will be securing the Senate’s support for the request.

The council approved both the lobbyist agreement and travel authorization by unanimous vote. Bromeland said meetings with state legislators are scheduled for March 25 when city representatives will be in St. Paul for the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities conference.