COOK– The city council here approved planning and design quotes for the city’s wastewater pond rehabilitation project as well as its north business utility extension project during its regular meeting Aug. 26.
Planning and engineering for the wastewater pond rehabilitation and collection system improvement project will cost $226,500, based on the quote from Bolton & Menk. That fee includes three main components: wastewater treatment facility pond improvements, sewer system smoke testing, and sump pump inspections.
The quote includes everything through the construction bidding process. Of the $226,500, $121,500 is allocated to surveying the pond site, conducting an environmental review, reviewing existing plans, developing new plans for six structure replacements (five manholes and an influent splitter control structure), developing plans for repairing the dike and adding a boat ramp, submitting plans for MPCA review, and entering a bidding phase.
The project will also include smoke testing and sump pump inspections. Smoke testing will cost $20,000 and will involve three to four days of testing conducted by two to three city staff. Smoke testing is a cost-effective way to find leaks in a sewer system by blowing nontoxic smoke through the system to reveal gaps in pipes and other fittings.
Sump pump inspections will cost around $85,000. The city will be reaching out to residents via mail inserts, flyers and public presentations to coordinate inspections for more than 285 pump connections.
The pond is currently overwhelmed, according to Luke Heikkila, a senior engineering technician with Bolton & Menk. “A lot of the structures that are in are deteriorated and they’re failing,” he said.
The total cost of the pond restoration, including construction, is estimated at around $1.2 million. The project has already received $330,000 in federal earmarks.
If all goes according to plan, construction could begin as early as April 2027.
The north business utility extension will include more than 4,500 feet of new water and sewer lines along Vermilion Drive and Ashawa Road. It will provide new utility service connections as well as improve overall system pressure and reliability. Design for the project will cost $256,000.
The total cost of the project, including construction, is estimated around $2.5 million. The project has already received $1.5 million from a state bonding bill. Construction is scheduled to begin next summer.
In other business, the council:
• Updated the hours of the community center to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
• Approved a $31,000 utility rate study by Ehlers to assist the city with long-term financial planning.
• Approved an alcohol consumption license for the second annual Sip and Savor event on Oct. 22. The event will offer the opportunity to taste more than 50 different types of wines and spirits and will be catered by Mel's Bistro.
• Approved gambling permits for Friends of the Cook Public Library to hold quilt and holiday basket raffles.
• Heard that the city is transitioning its IT services to FUSIONTech LLC.