Council conditionally approves $55,000 test‑well engineering work, urges landowner outreach

Councilors voted to approve contracting Sunrise Engineering for up to $55,000 to carry out preliminary work on a potential test well, including environmental work, bid documents and drilling‑phase preparations. Members discussed grant timelines, property‑access negotiations, and whether the city should approve engineering work before confirming landowner permission.

A councilor summarizing staff advice said the community does not currently have sufficient excess water capacity required by state rules and that proactive work is needed. “We actually don't. We have insufficient water for state to meet state requirements currently,” the council member (speaker 8) said during discussion. Council approved the contract with the condition that staff verify property owner access and proceed with landowner outreach in parallel with the engineering work to avoid paying for work that cannot be completed due to access or permission constraints.