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Wrenshall approves Task Order 7 to seek $5.3 million in PFA sewer funding after split vote
Summary
The council voted 3–2 to sign Task Order 7 (Infrastructure Improvements, $609,000) and adopt Resolution 26-01 to move a looping/co‑located sewer project forward for eligibility for approximately $5.3 million in Public Facilities Authority (PFA) funding amid council concern the project may not be the city's highest priority.
Councilor Steve Studniski moved and Councilor Sabrina Weber seconded a motion to sign Task Order 7 (Infrastructure Improvements, $609,000) and adopt Resolution 26-01 to advance certification of a looping/co‑located sewer project for Public Facilities Authority funding eligibility.
Engineers Laura Ostlie and Nathan Fiest answered council questions about a recommendation from Bollig Engineering to proceed with Task Order 7 and explained that certification work would make the project eligible for roughly $5.3 million in PFA funding. "Task Order 7" and the associated certification work are intended to position the project for PFA financing, according to the presentation.
The council split on the motion. In a recorded roll-call vote Councilor Joyce Gvesrude voted No; Councilor Sabrina Weber voted Yes; Councilor Kevin House voted No; Councilor Steve Studniski voted Yes; Councilor Jeff Bloom voted Yes. The motion carried 3–2, and the council adopted Resolution 26-01 to move the project forward.
The transcript notes that "concerns were raised that the project is not the city’s highest priority." The record does not identify which individual council member first voiced that concern; it appears during the engineers' briefing and council questions. The council did not adopt alternative priority guidance in the meeting minutes.
Next steps described during the presentation include moving forward with the Task Order certification steps to keep the project eligible for PFA funding. No timeline for construction or a final project budget beyond the cited PFA estimate was provided during the meeting.
