Pine City hosts House Capital Investment Committee for tour of wastewater treatment ponds

Pine City hosted the House Capital Investment Committee on Tuesday morning for a tour of the city's wastewater treatment ponds.

The city is seeking state bonding funds to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility, which serves nearly 30% of the homes in southern Pine County — about 1,825 properties — including the cities of Pine City and Henriette, and the Pokegama Lake and Cross Lake sewer districts.

"They came out today to view our sewer ponds, and to look at potentially funding part of a $14 million project upgrading them and bringing them up to standard," said mayor Kent Bombard. "It was great to have them here, and I hope we can move forward and help bring our sewer ponds into the future and not have to put such a cost burden on our taxpayers."

City engineer Greg Anderson explained that Pine City is seeking about half of the project's anticipated cost from the state.

"We're going to continue to look for other opportunities on the city's side, but it would obviously take a big load off," A $14 million project for Pine City is a huge ask, and if we could get it down to $5 million or less on the city's side with outside funding, that would be excellent."

Bombard and Anderson joined state representative Nathan Nelson to testify in front of the House Capital Investment Committee in April.

The project's scope includes replacing the aeration system, adding riprap to stabilize and protect the pond banks, and replacing the existing bar screen to increase efficiency.

The work would also improve the quality of water released into the Snake River.

Bombard said the 106-acre pond system has not seen significant improvements in over 50 years.

Nelson said a decision on a bonding bill likely won't be made until late in the legislative session.

"A bonding bill is generally one of the last things that's passed in the biennium," he said. "So it would be one of the final negotiations that happens. Sometimes you know that a project is going to be in the bill before that, but it really comes down to the final hours a lot of times."