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��i <br />Elk River <br />Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br />TO: <br />FROM: <br />ERMU Commission <br />Mark Hanson — Deputy General Manager <br />HEMEETING DATE: <br />AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br />November 8, 2022 <br />6.1a2 <br />SUBJECT: <br />Staff Update <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />None <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Last month, I provided a broad overview of the northeast/northwest Elk River urban services <br />expansion study completed by WSB Engineering, a sizeable expansion effort with the potential <br />for a 60% increase to our urban service area and resultant water demand. Listed below is a <br />more detailed update including recent discussions that may change the scope of the WSB <br />study: <br />• The expansion effort was split into two areas due to their geographic location (NW and <br />NE Elk River) and elevation (pressure) differences. Each area was intended to be <br />operated as independent systems due to their elevation differences. <br />o The current water estimate for the NE expansion area is $42.5M. With a <br />maximum projected developable acreage of 1328, that equates to $32K/acre. <br />o The current water estimate for the NW expansion area is $37.4M. With a <br />maximum projected developable acreage of 1931, that equates to $19.4K/acre. <br />o Projected water demand in each area requires the installation of a new well <br />($3M), tower ($4.75M) and treatment plant ($6M). <br />• Due to the high costs associated with building independent systems with relatively low <br />developable acreage, I met with Zach Carlton (Community Development Director) and <br />Justin Femrite (Public Works Director), to brainstorm ideas for reducing costs by <br />focusing on the most developable acreage. Outcomes of the meeting included: <br />o Reducing the size of one or both service areas would eliminate thousands of feet <br />of trunk main and may eliminate a tower, well, and/or treatment plant. <br />o Most of the anticipated changes would impact the planned NW expansion area. <br />• The new layout still needs to be routed through WSB and our design consultant, Elfering <br />& Associates, to review the impacts of the suggested changes on the system design and <br />estimated costs. <br />• No direction is needed at this time. I will continue working with City staff to further <br />refine the WSB report and bring this back for future commission action. <br />Page 1 of 1 <br />149 <br />