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Burton council picks City Hall as site for proposed Well No. 5 as engineer outlines $1.5M–$3.1M alternatives
Summary
BEFCO Engineering told the council rising costs mean the city's GLO grant will cover only part of a new well project; the council selected City Hall for Well No. 5 and authorized staff to seek financing help to bridge a multimillion-dollar gap.
BEFCO Engineering presented a report showing prior well-cost estimates of roughly $750,000 have risen sharply because of inflation and now range from about $1.5 million to more than $3 million depending on the option chosen. Engineer Bradley Loehr told the council the original GLO application anticipated smaller costs and that available grant funds are insufficient for many of the proposed alternatives.
Loehr described system deficiencies including corrosive water, a lack of redundant wells, booster pumps at about 91% capacity, and plant equipment that needs upgrades or relocation. He said the options ranged from constructing a single new well adjacent to the existing City Hall plant to building a second full plant and storage tank near the elevated storage tank. "If sufficient funding and land can be secured, BEFCO recommends Alternative 2B," Loehr said, referring to a plan that would add a new well, second ground storage tank and a second set of booster pumps at the Water Tower Plant.
After discussion of costs and site logistics, the council voted to locate Water Well No. 5 at the City Hall site. Councilmember Jeff Eckhardt moved and Councilmember Nathan Kalkhake seconded the motion, which the minutes record as passing with the attendance recorded as McLaughtin and Gilmon supporting the action and no recorded opposition.
City Secretary Angela Harrington also advised the council to consider professional financing assistance. The council authorized staff to pursue a financial advisor and, if necessary, bond counsel to help identify funding options and structure potential debt or bond issues.
The BEFCO packet presented line-item estimates for multiple alternatives: a City Hall-only well and associated upgrades estimated at about $1.4 million to $1.8 million, Water Tower Plant options ranging roughly $2.8 million–$3.1 million, and a remote new-plant alternative with variable site and access costs. BEFCO noted only $593,800 was available from the GLO grant tied to the application, leaving a significant local funding requirement if the larger alternatives are pursued. The report set a project completion requirement for the GLO grant as March 31, 2026.
