Sauk Rapids Council Approves Construction Project, New Well

(KNSI) – The Sauk Rapids City Council approved two public works projects at Monday’s meeting.

That includes adding the resurfacing of six blocks of 4th Avenue North to the already planned 2023 overlay schedule. City Engineer Scott Hedlund says the work will delay a full rebuild of the road by at least five years.

“It was planned for reconstruction in 2032. Now the reconstruction is getting pushed out to 2037. We’re doing a resurfacing now, so that’s like more of a maintenance-type activity.”

The project includes several side roads and a stretch of 4th Avenue North from 2nd Street to 8th Street. Three-and-a-half inches of asphalt will be laid down, plus targeted curb and gutter repair. The cost is estimated to be about $480,000 for just the 4th Avenue work.

Additionally, a portion of Division Street and 2nd Avenue North will be redone completely.

The council also approved a new well for the municipal water system. It already exists, having served as a test pumping site to determine the feasibility of Well 6, which was installed back in 2011. Access to the underground reservoir at what will become the new site has been capped since. City Engineer Scott Hedlund says putting it into use serves two purposes.

“It’s redundancy in the city’s water system, but it also will help with the city’s PFAS efforts.”

The access point is closer to the river bed and will be able to pump at least 500 gallons per minute. Well 6 maxes out at about 350 gallons per minute, by comparison. Hedlund says the new one will be fully operational by the end of the year.

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