Rolla council approves application to seek state funding for water treatment upgrades

The Rolla City Council on Feb. 18 authorized Interstate Engineering to submit an application to the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR) to cost-share engineering and design work for upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant.

Mayor Kevin Juntunen reported that Wade Senger of Interstate Engineering updated the Public Works Committee on an assessment of the plant and that the committee recommended pursuing DWR funding to evaluate options ranging from renovating the existing plant to adding a new facility. On a motion by Clarence Booth, seconded by Damond Schemmel, the council approved the firm’s submission of the funding application.

Why it matters: the council’s vote moves the project from assessment to design planning, a step that would be needed before construction and before the city can seek construction grants or bids. The council also noted recent operations work: the ground storage reservoir (GSR) tank leak on the plant’s west side has been repaired and the city is coordinating with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality on introducing sodium hydroxide treatment to adjust pH levels.

City staff and committee members discussed short-term repairs and longer-term options. Cliff Rush, the city’s public works director, confirmed a recent sewer-line repair on 9th Ave NE and told the council the Flex Funding paving grant for this year was not approved; the city will instead consider pavement and underground-water-line work as a proposed summer project.

The motion approved by council authorizes Interstate Engineering to prepare and submit the DWR application for design plans; the application itself does not obligate the city to construction or to a particular design. Next steps identified by the council include completing the DWR application, continued coordination with DEQ on chemical treatment adjustments, and developing cost estimates for proposed summer street and utility work.