Council advances sanitary-regionalization study tied to $23.6 million grant

Chair called the council to approve advancing a sanitary regionalization study funded in part by a roughly $23,600,000 grant awarded about a year ago to support connections for Colton, Tri Valley, Lions and Crooks. Chair said, "It's been about a year since we were awarded the $23,600,000 grant," and the council approved moving forward with planning and study work.

Jake, the city engineer from DGR, described the study's goals and timetable, saying the deliverable will be a presentation and report intended around March with recommendations and a set of projects that could be placed on the state water plan. "The goal coming out of that is gonna be more or less a recommendation and what we hope to be a clear and concise option moving forward as it relates to sewer treatment, regionalization," Jake said. He noted the study will evaluate whether Crooks should connect to Sioux Falls or Hartford and will include collection-system deficiencies and project candidates for funding applications.

Councilors discussed the plan's timeframe and the grant's 10-year usage window. Jake advised the study will produce project cost estimates, and the city could use local reconstruction work as match toward the larger regional grant. The motion to proceed with the sanitary sewer study passed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize the study scope, return with a revised quote if needed, and prepare project materials for the state water plan and grant match considerations.