This facility, located on 3 Tower Road, is looking to get some major improvements over the next 20 years. Utility Planner Dan Pirsig said the changes, necessary due to the building being nearly 50 years old, will require $115 million in funding over time.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Public Utilities Commission took the first step in a 20-year process at Tuesday’s meeting.

The commission approved the development of a phase 1 facility plan from Bolton and Menk for $70,900. This plan is targeted specifically for the wastewater department, with much of the focus going toward their current plant on 3 Tower Road. The plant was constructed in 1976 and has several outdated pieces needing replacement.

The plan’s main focus is prioritization. This ensures pressing matters are dealt with as soon as possible and less dire projects are put on the back burner for a later date. Utilities Director Kris Manderfeld said planning will help the commission with funding schedules.

“This facility plan will help develop where we can look for money and what might be available,” she said. “There’s different grants and other things that come up. If we’re going to the legislature, the schedule for the legislature will dictate when we can ask for money there.”

With an estimated $115 million needed, there isn’t a shortage of projects to tackle. Utilities Engineer Dan Pirsig said the plant’s aging mechanical and electrical systems are currently considered to be the biggest focus areas. This includes replacing pumps, blowers, and switchgears throughout the building. With the main wastewater building reaching 50 years, Pirsig said now is the time to set things in motion.

“We’ve been systematically working on other stuff,” he said. “We did the diffuser project two years ago. We did a major ATAD renovation in 2016. We’re doing some switchgear right now for our 20th Street lift station. It’s part of an ongoing process.”

Manderfeld said this is the first time they have done a full-scale wastewater facility plan in decades. Despite their best efforts at routine maintenance, Manderfeld said now is the time for a makeover.

“The plant has been very well taken care of,” she said. “Staff have done a very good job of upgrading when it needs to be and doing maintenance on the plant as it was aging. The plant gets to a point where it needs to have a full overhaul. That’s where we’re at today.”

Projects within the facility plan aren’t expected to begin for at least a couple of years. Manderfeld said there will be no changes to their service from the plan at this point. Even when repairs are underway, she said careful planning should ensure continued successful usage of wastewater services.

“That’s the whole point of why we’re doing it, so that doesn’t happen,” Manderfeld said. “We’ll have a plan in place to get things replaced, upgraded, rehabbed before that would happen.”

Commissioner Sean Fingland made the motion to approve the wastewater treatment facility plan, with Commissioner Kim Williams seconding.