Minnetrista council endorses water-system plan, authorizes bids for Wells 8 and 9 amid sticker shock over costs

Minnetrista Mayor Lisa Whalen and the City Council voted to advance plans and advertise for bids for Wells 8 and 9 after a consultant presented a multi-year water-system master plan that recommends new wells, treatment and storage to meet rising peak-day demand.

The consultant, Erin, told the council the city faces five primary challenges — growth, redundancy and resiliency gaps, water supply limits, raw-water quality (elevated iron and manganese) and regulatory requirements — and recommended a south-zone treatment plant sized for roughly 2,100 gallons per minute at the Woodland Cove site, additional north-zone capacity and new wells 8 and 9. "We're recommending the Woodland Cove water plant at a 2,100 gallon per minute capacity," Erin said.

Why it matters: Erin said Minnetrista's peak-day demand has increased substantially in recent years and that planning should account for short-term (to 2030) and near-term (2030–2040) growth windows. The consultant estimated peak-day system demand could rise from about 2.0 million gallons per day to roughly 2.5 million gallons per day in the near term and echoed modeling that shows high peaking factors — about 3.6–3.8 for the city versus about 2.6 that state guidance often references.

Water quality and treatment: Erin reported that test samples for proposed Wells 8 and 9 showed manganese at or near the Minnesota Department of Health's health-based value (about 100 parts per billion), and that the state has been emphasizing manganese treatment. "The state has a hundred part per billion, health based value for infants that they recommend to stay under," Erin said, noting the regulatory pressure to treat for manganese.

Cost and timing: Erin presented planning-level cost estimates that, during discussion, were described as totaling roughly $22.2 million and including a 30% contingency. Several council members expressed concern about the scale of that figure. Mayor Whalen said the scale of potential spending was difficult to accept: "Basically, we have to spend millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars for irrigating people's lawns," she said, arguing the city should consider alternatives such as redirected irrigation supply or tiered rates to reduce peak treated-water use.

The consultant acknowledged uncertainty in early estimates and said a more precise total will emerge after site survey, geotechnical testing and preliminary design. Erin advised a preliminary water-plant design could be completed in about 6–9 months. Staff and the consultant identified a near-term procurement schedule: bid opening for well work on May 8 with council consideration of award at the May 20 meeting and a May 20 work session planned to focus on financing and plant options.

What the council approved: After extended discussion about capacity, treatment and cost, the council moved, seconded and voted orally to approve plans and specifications and to authorize advertisement for bids for Wells 8 and 9. The motion passed on an oral voice vote.

Next steps: Staff and the consultant will proceed with design-level work for the south treatment plant and the wells; council scheduled a May 20 work session to review financing options and further refine the capital-improvement timeline.