City moves closer to deal with Traill Rural Water Users

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Hillsboro city commissioners took one step closer Monday to forming a partnership with Traill Rural Water Users. If consummated, the relationship would yield a new water treatment plant for the city.

Commissioners pitched three options to residents at a public meeting June 5 and only two residents showed up for the presentation. 

“I haven’t got a negative vibe from anybody out there,” said water commissioner Mike Lessard. “Once you explain it to them” residents accept the plan to build new and tap into 70 percent federal and state grant funding.

Commissioner Lorraine Tibert said, “People have been stopping me on the street saying, ‘I hope you go with Traill’.”

At Monday’s regular meeting, commissioners instructed city attorney John Juelson and engineer Charlie Vein to fine tune a joint powers agreement that will guide the partnership with the city, Traill Rural Water and the City of Mayville.

For several years, TRW has been courting the two cities to form a regional water system. The Clifford, N.D.-based water supplier had given the city a deadline of July 16 for a “yes” or “no” answer to the partnership offer. Under the proposal put forth by TRW and already accepted by Mayville leaders, a new wellfield near Galesburg will provide a new raw water source for Mayville and Hillsboro. The water will be piped to Mayville where a revamped water plant will treat water for city residents as well as TRW customers.

The same scenario has been proposed to Hillsboro, except that Hillsboro would build a completely new plant using new membrane softening technology to greatly improve the quality of water delivered to customers. The proposed 1,000 gpm plant would split the treated water— 60  percent for city use and 40 percent for TRW.

After months of discussion and study, city commissioners voted unanimously Monday to set the legal wheels in motion to formalize the deal. Commission president Kevin Burg, who owns Aqua Pure Water Solutions, a water softening business in Hillsboro, abstained from the vote.

The first legal step is to adopt a city ordinance — allowed by the city’s home rule charter — that gives the city commission the authority to approve construction without a vote of the people.

A first reading of the ordinance would be held Tuesday, June 24 at the commission’s reorganizational meeting. At that time, newly elected commissioner Charlie Stock will take over for outgoing commissioner Lessard. Tibert was also re-elected to a fourth four-year term.

Engineer Vein spent several minutes at Monday’s meeting reviewing details of the construction options with Stock. The new commissioner was present in the audience and asked several questions related to costs and treatment processes, referencing recent articles in the Hillsboro Banner.

According to published figures, TRW’s three-phase plan with Hillsboro and Mayville creates a regional water supply system at a cost of $22.4 million. With grant funds, the local cost is reduced to an estimated $6.7 million with a portion paid by each of the three entities — $3.2 million for TRW, $1.1 million for Mayville and $2.4 million for Hillsboro.

If Hillsboro were to join with TRW, a new plant is still at least two to five years away from reality, engineers agreed.

TRW has already received about $1 million in state  and federal grants to cover 70 percent of  Phase 1 and 2 improvements to its own system. If Hillsboro joins in Phase 3, TRW needs to factor that into its designs soon. The City of Mayville is already on board to work with TRW.

TRW indicated that Phase 3 funding has not been formally approved but typically once a project receives grant money through the MR&I fund, it is funded to completion.

Off and on for the past 10 years, Hillsboro city officials have discussed options to improve or replace the city’s water treatment plant, built in 1966.

If Hillsboro moves forward with “Option 3” on its proposal list —  a new regional plant using membrane technology — the estimate cost is $8 million. The project would be financed through state  MR&I grants (up to 70 percent) and by the city (30 percent). The local consumer, using about 7500 gallons per month, would see an estimated monthly bill of $44, which would cover the cost of water and the cost of construction and operation of the new plant.