Council awards lagoon-cleaning contract; staff warns nutrient loading and permitting will shape schedule

Council reviewed bids to remove and manage solids from the wastewater lagoon and awarded the project to the apparent low bidder identified in the staff packet. Staff explained the unit price ($300 per dry ton for the low bidder) and that the $1,065,000 figure corresponds to the engineer's high estimate of 3,550 dry tons; the contractor will bill for actual tons removed. The city will not begin field disposal activities until crop and land-use timing allow and permitting is complete; staff estimated on-site work could occur in the fall once fields are clear.

Council members raised longstanding concerns about fertilizer and nitrate loading in the lagoon and discussed pursuing remedies if an outside party (identified in the discussion as ICC Holdings) is contributing nutrients or not paying taxes; staff said the city attorney has started outreach and that ordinance or legal action may be required if voluntary remedies are not obtained. Staff emphasized disposal method options (on-site drying, off-site hauling) and that permit work is in progress.