Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Supply topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grafton council advances talks with Walsh Rural Water, approves water‑system study
Summary
The City Council voted to pursue discussions with Walsh Rural Water on joining the Red River Valley Water Supply project — nominating 2 cfs conditionally — and approved a $96,200 Moore Engineering water‑system study with a 60% cost‑share grant application pending.
The Grafton City Council on Feb. 10 voted to continue conversations with Walsh Rural Water about participating in the Red River Valley Water Supply project and approved a separate water‑system study to identify local infrastructure needs.
Mayor Chris West presided as the council adopted a Memorandum of Commitment nominating 2 cubic feet per second (cfs) for the regional water project, conditioned on inclusion of the project's assurance policy in the Project Participation Agreement. Administrator Nick Ziegelmann described the Red River Valley Water Supply project as a drought supplier of water and recommended committing while the city evaluates options over the coming year.
Geoff Slick, an engineer with AE2S, said the joint powers infrastructure currently includes 10 wells that pump about 200 gallons per minute (gpm) each. Adding eight more wells for the Grafton alternative would, he said, provide roughly 2,100 gpm to Grafton and 1,200 gpm to Park River. Slick described a plan that would route water through a transfer station and reservoir, using a 20" pipeline to Park River and a 16" pipeline where downhill pressure serves Grafton. He told the council that roughly $17'$19 million in federal funds and $9'$10 million in state funds appear likely for the overall project, leaving an estimated Grafton local share of $2,038,800.
City Attorney Rob Fleming asked whether the local share was negotiable; Slick said allocation would be determined by the Joint Powers Board and based on capacity. Council member Brad Burianek asked whether switching suppliers would save on chemical costs. Water Superintendent Tom Dusek replied that Walsh water is cleaner and more stable than Red River surface water, would likely be less expensive to treat and would avoid surface water treatment regulatory requirements.
Councilor Burianek moved and Kylen Kostrzewski seconded a motion to continue conversations with Walsh Rural Water; the roll call vote recorded Burianek, Kostrzewski, Donavon McMillian, Loree Osowski and Greg Young in favor and no opposition. Mayor West declared the motion carried.
Separately, the council approved a $96,200 agreement with Moore Engineering for a comprehensive Water System Study. Kyle Myer of Moore Engineering said $3,000 had already been approved earlier for funding documentation (not eligible for cost share) and that the city has submitted a 60% cost‑share grant application for the study ($55,920). He said a decision on that grant request is expected soon; design‑phase cost‑share requests will follow at the end of April and may incorporate discussions about the Walsh Rural Water project.
The council did not adopt any final purchase or interconnection agreements at the meeting. The immediate next steps are continued conversations with Walsh Rural Water, awaiting the state's decision on the Moore Engineering cost‑share application, and preparation of design‑phase funding requests.
