NEW ULM — The installation and replacement of New Ulm’s raw water main under the Minnesota River could be completed before the end of the year.

The New Ulm Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a $368,560 quote from Ellingson Drainage for the installation of the raw water main under the Minnesota River.

In August, a valve on the raw water line was replaced as it was believed to be the source of a leak. However, after the replacement, it was determined that the valve was not contributing to the leak. MR Paving was contracted to bore holes along the length of the raw water line and a leak-detecting firm was called in to help identify the source of the leak. On Aug. 16, it was confirmed that the leak was found to be under the Minnesota River about 15 feet from the bank.

This raw water line feeds water from wells #20 and #21 to the treatment plant. The wells currently are offline due to the failure of the pipe.

The two wells produce approximately 1,000 gallons per minute when fully functioning, which is approximately 30% of the city’s average summer water demand. Due to the accessibility issues related to the line, the project was pushed up to top priority for repair. The raw water line is approximately 53 years old and will need to be bored under the Minnesota River.

Ellingson Drainage’s quote would replace 800 feet of the 2,600 feet of 16-inch raw water main located within the flood plain. Utilities had two options for using repair. The first option used PVC DR-14 pipe, which is more expensive than the HDPE pipe option. However, the PVC DR-14 pipe is available in mid-November. The cheaper option would not be ready until January, delaying the start of the project.

NUPU wants a replacement to be made this fall to take advantage of the drought conditions and weather. There is a strong possibility of flooding conditions limiting access to this area next spring.

Utility Engineer Dan Pirsig is hopeful the project could be done by mid-December.

This quote also accepts the installation of a 2-inch conduit, parallel to the replaced 16-inch pipe, for future installation of fiber-optic cable to the area.

Manderfeld said three quotes were received on this project. Ellingson Drainage was the low bidder on the project.

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The PUC will recommend the city establish a special assessment for 2022 delinquent water and wastewater charges.

Property owners are invoiced monthly by the New Ulm Public Utilities. Unpaid services are assessed against the property

following the requirements and procedures prescribed by Minnesota Statues. The assessment will include

the annual principal plus interest calculated from the date of the adoption of the assessment resolution to the end of 2022, plus 12 months of the next year, and bear interest at the rate of 4.25% annually. The interest rate is based on the city’s most recent bond sale plus 2%.

City Finance Director Nicole Jorgensen said in the past the city had put liens on these delinquent charges, but city attorneys recommended the city follow state statute

The list of properties to be assessed is still being compiled by the city. A public hearing will be held with the city council before approving the assessments. Since this is a new policy, the city is only assessing bills past due in 2022.

These assessments, if approved, will appear on property taxes.

This will only be done for water and wastewater. Assessments cannot be made for delinquent gas and electrical bills.

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Public Utility wells and Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV) will receive an upgrade in the alarm system to reduce the number of false alarms.

The Water Department has been receiving multiple alarms signaling communication failures at the wells and PRVs. Well 18’s alarm is signally multiple times a week. Wells 26 and 27 once a week, and a few other wells are having intermittent signaled. There has also been no communication between the two PRVs located at Garden Street and Boundary Street. The false alarms have caused significant overtime for staff as an employee is forced to check each alarm. Some of these alarms are going off in the middle of the night, creating forced overtime.

Utility Director Kris Manderfeld said the reason for the false alarms is related to the age of the equipment. Utility Engineer Dan Pirsig estimated the alarm system was at least 25 years old.

Upgrading to cellular radio is a better option for reliable alarm security.

This upgrade includes the cost of installation and equipment purchase. The PUC accepts the proposal from Automatic Systems Co. for installation, programming, and engineering services to add cellular radios for the operation of wells and pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs), for $36,042.

The equipment itself included 10 cellular radios and 1- antenna for wells and Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs), from SHI International Corp. for $8,280, and CDW-G in the amount of $139.60, for a total purchase price of $8,419.60.

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The commissioners accepted a bid from S.T. Cottor Turbine Services, Inc. for the #4 Generator Overhaul project with Options for $201,708.

The insurance company dictates a full overhaul be done every ten years or 50,000 hours. This generator does not run enough in a year to reach 50,000 hours in 10 years, but the last overhaul was done in 2012.

This was budgeted in 2023 budgeted project but to get on the schedule for 2023, the project needed to be bid in late

2022. This project is proposed to take place in August 2023.