Project in New Brighton will begin this spring
NB, CH councils approve agreement for water tower
The water tower at County Road E and Stinson Boulevard will serve 222 New Brighton properties while the tower at 3001 Fifth St. N.W. is repaired and reconditioned. The temporary water service interconnection is defined in an agreement between the cities of New Brighton and Columbia Heights. (Image courtesy of the city of New Brighton)
The cities of New Brighton and Columbia Heights are partnering for a water tower rehabilitation project.
New Brighton’s Public Works Department contacted Columbia Heights city staff about the project, which would involve repairing and reconditioning the service tower at 3001 Fifth St. N.W. in New Brighton.
The tower, which was built in 1992, provides water to the areas around Wexford Heights, Seminary Estates and other nearby streets. It will be taken out of service during the work, so New Brighton won’t be able to provide municipal water service.
The area, north of County Road E/45th Avenue and east of Stinson Boulevard, had been served by the city of Columbia Heights until the early 1980s, said Columbia Heights Public Works Director Kevin Hansen. The connections are still present, but are currently valved off. One valve will need to be replaced before the project can begin.
While the work is taking place, 222 properties will be served by water from Columbia Heights via the existing interconnect at County Road E and Stinson Boulevard, wrote New Brighton Director of Public Works Grant Wyffels in a memo to the City Council.
The project is expected to last no more than eight weeks. An agreement that has been reviewed by both city attorneys for Columbia Heights and New Brighton defines that New Brighton is responsible for the water connection, including operation and costs.
The service area has been calculated to use about 100,000 gallons of water per day. If more water is used than calculated, the agreement defines how costs will be determined.
The city of New Brighton will pay Columbia Heights for the water used at 2013 Columbia Heights water rates. Based on the 2013 Columbia Heights rate of $3.53 per 1,000 gallons rate, New Brighton will pay Columbia Heights the sum of $353 per day for each day or partial day that it receives water from Columbia Heights.
Based on eight weeks of interconnection, the total comes to $19,768. All costs and funding for the project will be financed by Fund 400, New Brighton’s Water Improvement Capital Fund.
The Columbia Heights City Council unanimously approved the agreement with New Brighton during its Dec. 10 meeting.
The New Brighton City Council on Dec. 11 unanimously authorized the mayor and city manager to execute the agreement, which was listed under the consent agenda.
According to Wyffels, Columbia Heights’ municipally supplied water is purchased from the city of Minneapolis, and the water source is the Mississippi River; water softening is not necessary. Notices will be sent out to affected customers. Wyffels said the project is expected to begin on or shortly after April 1.
