Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Early council approves short-term water fixes, orders testing and seeks state loan option
Summary
After a presentation by Bolton & Menk engineers, the Early City Council voted to temporarily rehabilitate the old water treatment plant, authorize a Geoprobe evaluation on parcel #810609400004, and pursue a Drinking Water SRF Intended Use Plan application; the council also adopted a resolution to set a public hearing on a potential Water Revenue Loan up to $400,000.
Engineers from Bolton & Menk briefed the Early City Council on the status of the city’s water supply and long-term options, and the council approved a series of short-term and preparatory steps on May 20, 2025.
Councilor Christine Madden introduced Resolution 25-06 to fix a date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter a Water Revenue Loan and Disbursement Agreement to borrow up to $400,000; Councilor Brian Pickhinke seconded. The resolution passed on a roll call vote with Councilors Pickhinke, Tim Langner, Madden and Cory Tiefenthaler voting aye and Councilor Brandon Scadden absent. The transcript does not specify the public hearing date.
Following the engineers’ presentation, the council voted to temporarily rehabilitate the old treatment plant with an estimated cost between $110,000 and $165,000; Councilor Brian Pickhinke moved the measure and Councilor Cory Tiefenthaler seconded. The council also authorized a Geoprobe evaluation estimated at $25,000 to $35,000 on parcel #810609400004, described in the record as outside the setbacks; the Geoprobe motion was moved by Councilor Cory Tiefenthaler and seconded by Councilor Pickhinke.
The council additionally approved a motion by Councilor Brian Pickhinke, seconded by Councilor Tim Langner, to submit an Intended Use Plan application to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for the upcoming deadline "if able," indicating staff should pursue state funding opportunities for further work. All of these motions passed on roll call votes with the four members present voting aye and one absent.
Taken together, the actions commit Early to short-term repairs and geotechnical testing while opening the process to state revolving fund financing; schedule details for the public hearing tied to the proposed loan were not recorded in the transcript.
