Henning proceeds with water treatment project
News | Published on February 11, 2025 at 12:56pm EST | Author: henningmaster
0By Chad Koenen
Publisher
The Henning City Council is moving forward with an expansive water treatment facility rehabilitation project.
During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the city council approved the project that will make a number of upgrades and repairs to the aging water treatment facility.
As part of the project, the city will be expanding and renovating the existing water treatment plant, including providing separate chemical feed rooms, new chemical feed equipment, rehabilitating filter, replacing filter media, replacing under drains, rehabilitating pressure softeners, replacing the air compressor, replacing the brine delivery system, replacing valves and piping and other miscellaneous work.
The project is estimated to cost $7,287,909 and could begin as soon as this spring.
Last month the city council received a low bid from Eagle Construction Company, Inc., but held off on formally approving the project to get clarity on a few issues regarding the overall project funding.
Much of the discussion last week revolved around state and grant funding that the city is expected to receive for the project.
Bob Schliemann, of Apex Engineering, said the city received a grant from the Public Facilities Authority in the amount of $5 million, as well as a low interest loan for $2,287,909. Even though the city was approved for the grant and low interest loan, the city council wanted to make sure it would receive the money it was promised given the volatility of the federal government concerning grants and funding.
Schliemann said he received confirmation that the city’s funding has been made available and has essentially been put aside to help fund the water treatment facility project. Should the funding be withheld in the future, for one reason or another, the city could request to have the low bidder stop the project, which is expected to begin in the spring/summer of 2025. However, he said it was unclear if the contractor would need to stop the construction process even if the funding was pulled down the road, or if the city would be responsible for the entire cost of the project.
After hearing that the funding has been set aside and been confirmed by representatives from the PFA, the city council agreed to move forward with the project. The city council also approved setting up the bond over a 30-year period, but they expressed a desire to pay off the bond early if possible.
In other news
• During the public comment period the city council heard from residents requesting to have a more detailed financial statement report for those seeking the information, having city staff read the meters in the community and from the Country Corner Cafe regarding a misread on their meters that resulted in an increase of $1,900 in their monthly utility bill that was later determined to be a glitch on the city’s billing software.
• Approved a proposal from Abdo to complete the city’s annual audit report. The cost for the annual audit, which was the only proposal the city received back from a request to complete the work, would be $39,400 each year. The city’s previous auditor informed the city council it would no longer complete the annual audit for Henning. The new company is based in the Twin Cities area, but completes audits for cities and counties across the state.
• Discussed the ongoing issues the city has encountered with its utility billing software. The city council recently approved moving to a new cloud-based software system for its utility billing, but that will not be ready until this spring.
• Approved extending the deadline for 30 days for Scott Naddy to submit a reconstruction plan and timeline for the property he owns at 603 2nd St. in downtown Henning. The city had taken Naddy to court as part of a hazardous property abatement case and closed the meeting to discuss the case with the city attorney, before reopening it to the public.
• Heard a concern from city staff about morale with the city employees and need to schedule a work session to discuss issues with the city council. The city council approved holding a work session with the city employees on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
• Heard the Henning Ambulance Service responded to 36 calls during the month of January. Ambulance director Chelsey Waskosky said 11 people are attending an EMT class in Henning and another person is attending EMR classes at the Henning City Hall. The hope was some of the people attending the classes may join the Henning Ambulance Service in the future.
• Discussed the call volume for the city policy department after a full-time police officer resigned his position from the Henning Police Department. The Henning Police Department currently has just Chief of Police Mike Helle on staff, who has also been helping with the utilities department of late. The city council approved moving forward with advertising for a full-time police officer to add to the force, but will discuss the police department at an upcoming work session.