The Spring Valley City Council kicked off their February 12 meeting with a hearing to review the wastewater treatment plant’s (WWTP) plans for the future.
While the council has long known and planned for the WWTP upgrade project, it now has a definite deadline of January 1, 2031, due to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) compliance schedules.
Drew Weber and Jake Pichelmann of Bolton and Menk addressed the council to review the amended facility plan, which includes new findings and regulations.
“Typically, wastewater plant facilities are upgraded every 20 to 25 years as the standard. Yours is going on 37 years now without any significant improvements. Staff has done a good job replacing the critical components to keep the plant running and meet permits,” Pichelmann explained. “Looking at long-term needs, the structure out there is in good condition for the most part. The bones are in good shape, but its a lot of the outdated equipment and processes out there.”
While the city of Spring Valley has been working on a plan for the facility upgrade for many years, the MPCA’s compliance schedule for new nitrogen limits means they will have to begin the process of implementing the plan now to meet the 2031 schedule.
Pichelmann outlined three alternatives for this 20-year infrastructure plan. The first alternative involves a plant-wide rehabilitation, replacing outdated equipment and systems, put in a new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and pavement reconstruction. The second alternative would include all of alternative one with the addition of installing new secondary clarifiers. The third alternative includes all of the above alternatives with the inclusion of biological nutrient removal.
The estimated cost of the project is $13,500,000.
“The $13,500,000 is some sticker shock, but it doesn’t include any grant eligibility that will offset some of the costs and what isn’t covered by grants you are eligible for low-interest loans through the state of Minnesota,” Pichelmann noted.
As part of the plan, the collection system would need to be upgraded in areas throughout the city. This would include replacing deteriorating and leaking sewer pipes and manholes, reducing excessive infiltration and inflow and the reconstruction of affected streets.
The cost of this portion of the project is estimated at $7,625,00.
“We are trying to reduce the amount of clean water that goes into your system that you are paying to treat, but you don’t need to treat. The goal of this is to create that watertight system.” Weber said. “You guys have been doing a great job of staying proactive with reconstruction projects, so you’ve already done two project that were on the original plan including Fremont Street and Farmers Street.”
The final portion of the plan is to rehabilitate the existing lift station one with cured-in-place-pipe lining (CIPP) of existing eight-inch cast iron force-main and CIPP lining of existing 18-inch vitrified clap pipe (VCP) downstream of the force-main.
The estimated cost for this project is $1,060,000.
Public Works Director Chad Hindt verified this lift station is critical, as it handles nearly 50% of the city’s flow.
The total capital costs for the entire project are estimated at $22,265,000. Pichelmann reminded the council this is the cost prior to applying any grants and this project should be eligible for several grant opportunities.
When looking at the cost to residents, Pichelmann showed the existing user rates average is $40.50 per month and the new average would be between $75 and $80 per month according to the Minnesota Affordability Threshold based on the 2018- 2022 average home income.
The timeline shows the funding lists will be published in October 2024, which will then allow the city to move on to the engineering, designing and certification portions of the project with a tentative construction start date in 2026.
Staff Reports
Hindt shared he and his crew have been busy completing safety training, training their new employees and completing the testing for necessary licenses. They have also been servicing equipment, working at the compost site, shaping up potholes in the alleyways, and cutting trees.
New Spring Valley Library Director Melissa Vander Plas addressed the council for the first time, noting the library recently hosted a Take your Child to the Library event, which welcomed 80 visitors. After such a success the library will now be open on Saturday mornings, as well as Thursdays beginning in March. For their next community outreach project, the library will be working with the Bloomfield Cloverleaves 4-H group to collect items for the food shelf, while raising money for the library.
According to Ambulance Co-Director Mike Zimmer, they had a near record with 49 calls in January.
While it wasn’t a particularly busy month for the fire station, it was certainly memorable with a fire in downtown Spring Valley. Fire Chief Dustin Johnson took a moment to thank the Wykoff and Stewartville Fire Departments, along with his fellow firemen in Spring Valley and the Spring Valley Ambulance crew. The department had three carbon monoxide calls. Johnson reminded residents to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are up-to-date and have fresh batteries.
The council also expressed their gratitude to the fire departments and ambulance crew for their work on saving the downtown.
“Good job on that fire. That could have been bad fast. My hats off to everyone that came to help. You all handled that very well and I’m proud of you all,” Council member Greg Brooks expressed.
Other Business
•A resolution amending boundaries of tax increment financing (TIF) one through ten was approved.
•The council approved a resolution appointing election judges Jordan Lieffort, Gerald Wolf, Amber Zigan, Thomas Angerman and Jackson Rowe for the 2024 Presidential nominating primary.
•The 2024 ambulance subsidy contract was approved at $6,000, which is an increase of $1,500.
•The tobacco licenses renewals were approved for Casey’s, Kwik Trip, Sunshine Foods, Dollar General and Smoking Guns Smoke Shop.
The next council meeting will be held on March 11 at 6 p.m
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