City discusses need for shovel-ready projects

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Henning City Council is attempting to take a proactive approach for an expansive underground utility project within the community.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Henning City Council granted a request from Apex Engineering and the city’s utility department to complete the design phase of sanitary sewer, water main and road surface improvement project throughout a large portion of the city. The project includes large portions of Marshall Ave., School Ave., Hipple Ave., Balmoral Ave., Front St., Milne Ave., as well as a number of other roads throughout the community. 

While there is not necessarily a timeline for when the project will be completed, the goal of completing the design work will be to have a shovel ready project that can be quickly funded during the next round of a bonding bill—whenever the next round of funding becomes available. The city has proactively completed similar plans to get them shovel ready for potential funding in the past as well. 

“This project probably wouldn’t happen until the next bonding round,” said Utility Supervisor Ted Strand who added that may be anywhere from 2025-27. “All we are doing is trying to put ourselves in a position so that if things keep moving forward and things are favorable we can be ready to have a shovel ready plan so if the bonding becomes available we can move forward.”

“So it’s like we have done in the past we are trying to be proactive like Ted said we can get you in position so if some funding becomes available you are ready to go and take advantage of that opportunity,” said Schliemann.

The goal was to have the project ready for the Minnesota Department of Health and MPCA to review as soon as the spring of 2025.

“Basically what that would do is that would move you toward the top of the funding list because like Ted mentioned it would be shovel ready and once you get it shovel ready you kind of get bumped to the top of the list and when that grant funding becomes available you would be in a position to take advantage of that.”

The first step in the design phase is to complete the preliminary design survey and the estimated cost to complete this field work would be $81,000 and the total estimated cost to complete the design phase services is estimated to be around $470,000.

Strand said there are water pipes still in the ground that date back to 1938 and sewer pipes that date back to 1937. 

If the city were to complete the entire project the cost was estimated to cost over $9.8 million and would likely be spread out over the course of a few years to lessen the burden and impact of the community. 

Schliemann said the estimated funding package for the project would be in the form of a grant for $7.5 million, a low-interest PFA loan for nearly $1.9 million and the estimated cost for non PFA eligible projects would be $384,236. 

In addition to the future utility and surface reconstruction project the city received an update on the water treatment facility rehabilitation project. Schliemann said the estimated project cost was $4.8 million, of which 80 percent of the project will be in the form of a grant, while the remaining 20 percent of the project, or $972,500 will be in the form of a low interest loan. 

The plan as outlined by Schliemann was to start construction in the spring/summer 2025 and complete construction in summer/fall 2027. 

In other news

• Heard that CarlsonSV LLP is no longer interested in serving as the city’s auditor. The city received a letter from the company that stated it did not feel it can continue to provide the city with the level of services that are required due to internal changes and a shift in their business model. The city will seek bids for accounting services for future audits.

• Heard a company was interested in completing a Capital Improvement Plan at the airport at no cost to the city. Strand said it has been a number of years since a similar plan was completed, which the city had to pay for in the past.

• Heard about the potential for a Minnesota Department of Transportation grant that could help to fund ways to improve pedestrian safety in the community. There are a number of grants that are available to help fund improvements for pedestrian safety near the ball fields and military park, as well as other high traffic areas in town. 

• Approved closing the city hall on November 29, the day after Thanksgiving. 

• Approved a resolution regarding cameras in the community and where they can be placed by the city for surveillance on city property.