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Spring Grove council approves wastewater facility plan, seeks low-interest funding
Summary
The council approved WHKS’s facility plan and authorized Administrator Jana Elton to apply to the State Project Priority List by March 7, 2025, to pursue low-interest loans; WHKS warned of a July 1, 2028 outfall deadline and cost estimates ranging from $300,000 to $13 million depending on the option.
The Spring Grove City Council on Feb. 18 approved a wastewater facility plan and directed Administrator Jana Elton to place the project on the State Project Priority List (PPL) by March 7, 2025, to seek low-interest funding.
WHKS engineers Tim Hruska and Emma Nollenberger told the council the city's recently issued MPCA permit requires actions that could trigger a compliance schedule unless the city relocates its wastewater outfall about 1,500 feet downstream. "If outfall is completed by July of 2028, then the city will not be hit with that nitrogen limit," Hruska said. He and Nollenberger presented options that include a UV upgrade estimated at $300,000–$500,000 or an outfall relocation with preliminary cost estimates between $600,000 and $13,000,000 depending on scope and whether total nitrogen controls are required.
Hruska said the permit timeline spans three fiscal cycles (about 15 years) and stressed that permit limits can tighten over time: "these limits can change, this is sometimes a moving target," he said. WHKS recommended taking a stepwise approach and moving forward with the facility plan now so the city can apply for state and federal funding through the Intended Use Plan if placed on the PPL.
Administrator Jana Elton said WHKS will coordinate with the city’s financial adviser, Mike Bubany, on funding options that may include bonding or using the State Revolving Fund; she noted some funding sources fluctuate with state bonding decisions. Council Member Heather Edgington moved to approve the facility plan and to authorize Administrator Elton to work with WHKS on the PPL application; Council Member Morgan Buckland seconded the motion and the council voted unanimously to approve.
Next steps: WHKS will finalize the facility plan and the city will submit the PPL application by the March 7 deadline. The council will monitor funding availability and may bundle equipment replacements (several clarifiers are more than 12 years old) into a single financed project if needed.
