Montrose council weighs town-hall and costs as residents press water manganese concerns

The Montrose City Council spent a lengthy portion of its Aug. 12 meeting discussing community concerns about manganese in the local water supply and whether to hold a public town-hall to update residents.

Council members and staff said the Minnesota Department of Health previously told the city its water is safe to drink, but residents continue to voice worries on social media and by direct contact with staff. Council members asked staff to prepare a clear briefing that outlines what the city has done so far, what testing shows, and what the financial implications would be for residents.

‘‘I mean, the only thing that's remaining the same here is that it's gonna cost 30 to $40,000,000,’’ one council member said, framing the scale of potential remediation costs discussed at the meeting.

Public works staff said they can offer on-site screening tests for residents and suggested the city post sign-ups for limited home testing; they emphasized those tests are not from a certified laboratory and should be treated as preliminary results.

Council and staff debated timing and scope for a possible public meeting. Staff cautioned that a state agency representative may be difficult to secure for an evening session; the council asked staff to try to schedule an informational town-hall in October or at the next workshop with materials that explain budget, tax and rate implications under several hypothetical multi-year scenarios.

The council did not adopt any formal policy at the Aug. 12 meeting; members directed staff to compile testing results, cost projections, and a draft outreach plan for a future workshop or town-hall so residents can be informed about options and trade-offs.

The issue remains under council consideration, with staff expected to return with more detailed cost breakdowns and options in a future meeting.