5.1 Public Hearing - Small Cities Development Program

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Public Facility Proposal Applicant Name: City of Pequot Lakes Project Description Provide a detailed description of the activity: Narrative Answer: The City of Pequot Lakes has an emerging and critical need for a comprehensive wastewater improvement project. The aging system has had two critical breaks in their main forcemain - in October 2021 and February 2022. The City is respectfully requesting $600,000 of Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) funding to use with Public Facilities Authority (PFA) funding to complete this project in 2023 or early 2024. The total project cost of the project is $1,411,000. This project will meet the federal objective, as Pequot Lakes has been determined to be 52.66% low to moderate income, (2019, Housing and Urban Development (HUD)). The comprehensive wastewater project includes rehabilitation of the main lift station, also known as the Gravdahl Lift Station; and removal, and replacement of 4,000 feet of the main forcemain. The project has been on the state's Project Priority List (PPL) since September of 2021. The Gravdahl Lift Station "is antiquated, in poor working condition and needs to be replaced," according to the Facility Plan. It was installed in the 1960's and is estimated to be exceeding 55 years of service. Failure of a lift station may cause backup of raw sewage, serious health risks and contamination of the environment. The main forcemain also exceeds 55 years of service. As a key piece of infrastructure, all the wastewater collected in the City runs through this main to get to the wastewater treatment facility. The SCDP funding will be used to rehabilitate these two key pieces of the wastewater system. It will completely replace 4,000 feet of forcemain with 6" high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, decreasing the risk of breaks. The lift station will receive new pumps, motors, valves, piping, an alarm system, and other essential parts. The urgency of this wastewater infrastructure system is needed for the safety of the residents. The City of Pequot Lakes is 22 miles from the regional employment base of Brainerd. It has grown from 947 residents in 2000 to 2,166 in 2021, (U.S. Census). Vulnerable populations will be affected by this project including the 1,153 students at the Pequot Lakes School, the 80 low-income apartments and assisted living units for 128 elderly persons. The City of Pequot Lakes will use the SCDP funding to reconstruct the failing and outdated wastewater infrastructure in the city. The rehabilitation of critical infrastructure will remove the health and safety hazards and possible contamination of groundwater. This project will specifically benefit the 2,166 City residents, who are 52.66% LMI and it is ready for construction in 2023 and 2024, (2021, U.S. Census). Thank you for your kind consideration of this request Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) 2023 Full Proposal Public Facilities Infrastructure 4