Lake City Council Finalizes Details Of Proposed 28E Agreement With Lanesboro To Provide Water Services

The Lake City Council has finalized the details of a proposed agreement with the City of Lanesboro for Lake City to supply water to the smaller community. Lanesboro officials began exploring their options after high levels of iron, manganese and arsenic were discovered in their current system, and they decided a 28E agreement with Lake City was the most cost-effective approach. Tentative plans from the contracted engineering firm, ISG, would build an approximately seven-mile main to link the two towns. However, the councils have not yet come to a consensus on rates, maintenance, locates and future connections. Lake City Administrator, Eric Wood, says they are proposing rates of 110 percent of what in-town customers pay.

Wood adds the slightly higher rates were included to account for Lanesboro customers not paying property taxes for upkeep of water infrastructure. Lanesboro will own the water main that connects the two cities, so Lake City is proposing Lanesboro be responsible for any future maintenance costs or 811-call checks. Another critical part of this agreement is who handles future water connections to the main.

Lake City’s proposals were sent to the city attorney to be incorporated into the 28E agreement that will then be sent to the Lanesboro City Council for approval. Wood expects them to vote on the contract quickly, potentially as soon as their first meeting in May. Once the agreement is finalized, ISG will put the project out for bid with construction starting sometime in the fall. Barring any major delays, Lanesboro could be entirely serviced by Lake City’s water system as soon as spring 2022.