Ely city officials can breathe a sigh of relief - now that federal action to fund a major infrastructure project has been finalized.
A fiscal year spending bill that includes $2 million for the city’s drinking water supply intake and water main replacement project has been signed into law by President Trump.
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R) hailed the approval of House action last month, while U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) notified mayor Heidi Omerza after the Senate took similar action.
City officials say replacing the infrastructure is needed to insure the reliability of water supply to the city of Ely not only for domestic use, but fire protection as well.
Stauber said he advocated for the Ely project to be included in a bill that includes over $10 million in funding for his district.
“Making sure Minnesotans have access to clean and reliable water has always been a top priority of mine, and I’m proud to have secured more than $10 million for these vital projects,” said Stauber via a news release. “These funds will improve water treatment facilities, upgrade wastewater systems, and build stronger infrastructure across the Eighth District. I’ll continue working hard to bring federal dollars home to the Northland and support our communities.”
Projects in Duluth, Nashwauk, Hibbing, Coleraine, Mt. Iron/Eveleth, Keewatin and Cook were also funded in the appropriations bill.
The city is also seeking nearly $4 million in state bonding funds for the project, but the federal allocation will seemingly cut what was a $3.9 million funding gap in half. At last month’s Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board session, clerk-treasurer Harold Langowski said he was hopeful that both federal and state funds would be allocated so that the city would not have to complete the project in phases.
Previously, the city had secured $2.9 million in funds for the project including $2.5 million in low-interest loans from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority.
The city’s water pump house, intake structure and intake line were originally constructed in 1932, nearly a century ago, and the line runs about 25,000 linear feet from Burntside Lake to the city’s water plant located in the northwest corner of the city.
Multiple leaks have occurred along the water line due to movement during the winter months because of the lack of insulation and minimal depth at which the line was buried.
When the line leaks,the city must respond as an emergency situation given it’s the only source of water, using anywhere from 600,000 to a million gallons a day.
The city proposes improving the intake structure and piping, as well as pump house improvements.
This will include a new pump, automated controls, remote access and monitoring and providing adequate capacity in case of a water main emergency requiring additional flow.
The existing cast iron pipe is also beyond its design life and requires replacement.
