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City Council Minutes <br /> January 6, 2015 <br /> Page 3 of 11 <br /> from the ponds being spray irrigated on farm fields. The main need for the <br /> improvement is due to the proposed Highway 371 improvement which will <br /> split the spray pivot irrigators. <br /> Tim Houle explained the various alternatives and the variables associated <br /> with each alternative. <br /> • A-1 Method — Spray pivot irrigators using currently city-owned land <br /> - $2.6 million <br /> • A-2 Method - Spray pivot irrigators using additional land for spray <br /> irrigators - $1.1 million. <br /> • A-3 Method — Row irrigation system — Not pursued in detail. <br /> • B Method — Rapid infiltration basins - $1.75 million. <br /> • C Method — Piping city's wastewater to the PRASD - $3.3 million <br /> dollars. <br /> • D Method — Offsite surface disposal options. Did not pursue this <br /> method. <br /> • E Method — Subsurface Disposal — Did not pursue this method. <br /> Tim Houle stated that the lowest estimated present worth, which includes <br /> 20 years of O&M is the Spray Pivot Irrigators. The second lowest <br /> estimated present worth was Method B, the Rapid Infiltration Basins. <br /> Tim Houle explained that the Highway will be a limited access highway <br /> which would make it difficult to access the west side of the spray irrigation <br /> land which is why the City is choosing the east side for treatment disposal. <br /> Tim Houle stated that the MPCA has said that the City may be able to <br /> increase the application rate to the existing property which may allow the <br /> City to show another alternative of just spraying on the east side. <br /> Tim Houle reviewed the estimated sewer service charges based on the <br /> Rapid Infiltration Basin method. The cost to pay for the $1.7 million dollars <br /> is approximately $9.25 per month per residential customer. <br /> Dawn Bittner, City Zoning Administrator questioned whether the MPCA <br /> has concerns with irrigating near the lowland area in Option A2. Tim Houle <br /> explained that the MPCA hasn't officially reviewed the options. He stated <br /> that Option A2 is not very different from the present irrigator. <br /> Council Member Akerson questioned how long the Rapid infiltration basins <br /> will last. Tim Houle stated that they should not plug up and should last for <br /> quite a while. He stated that it would be a good idea to keep excess land <br /> on the east side in case of growth to the system. <br />