The Clearwater City Council is looking at a major water project  with a cost of more than $1 million.

 

Monday, the council discussed plans to install an additional  12” diameter water main from the water tower near the maintenance building, under I-94 to connect with a new watermain extension along Co. Rd. 7.

 

Engineer Joe Pelawa from Bolton & Menk estimated the cost to run the first pipe under the Interstate at about $860,000. That includes improvements and paving the road next to the maintenance building at a cost of $100,000.

 

That pipe would connect to either of two options south of I-94. The first would be a 12” diameter main heading west along Co. Rd. 7 for 2,100 feet at a cost of approximately $420,000. That spur would be the initial step in providing water service for development along the Hwy. 24 corridor south of I-94.

 

The other option is a 10” diameter main heading east for 1,600 feet to loop through Cedar South, Nicole Ave.and 10th Street.

 

The discussion about the additional main started last month when Pelawa informed the council about the existing main on Heaton Boulevard and Shorty Street that is only eight inches in diameter.

 

He said it should be upgraded to help provide enough service for future growth south of I-94. He also said there would be a major problem if the main ever broke, since it was the only supply south of the Interstate.

 

He also said the city should consider a second main to provide a loop and a secondary water route. The council asked him to put together some options and cost projections.

 

Monday, Pelawa said it was up to the council to choose where they wanted to go with the water service.

 

“It’s up to the council to decide what they want to accomplish,” he said. “Does the council want to push the water a bit further to the west, knowing that that’s the direction where growth is going to happen? Then eventually you’ll have the means to have a loop down there from Kwik Trip to Co. Rd. 7.”

 

 Administrator Kevin Kress said the city would have to bond for the project, which could run about $1.2 million if they choose the western main route.

 

“It should be a pretty high priority, considering Kwik Trip only has a single (water) feed,” he said. “If that line goes down, we’ll be scrambling to get that line up and running.”

 

Kress said the process would be similar to bonding for a street project - feasibility study, public hearings and bids before choosing to move ahead with the project.

 

Members of the council felt paving the maintenance road wasn’t a priority, but agreed the water main project should move ahead.

 

Kress said he would work to get cost estimates and speak with the city’s bond advisor about funding.

 

“We should at least make a conscious effort to see whether it’s feasible or not,” he said.

 

The council also approved a contract with Metro West Inspection Services as the city’s building inspector.

 

The contract price is 50% of the building permit fee plus 50% of the plan check fees, payable after the projects are 100% complete.

 

There is also a $50 re-inspection fee, and a $95 site inspection fee.