Randall PER moves forward to review phase

The wheels are still in motion on a potential major public improvement project in Randall.

Wednesday, City Manager Matt Pantzke updated the City Council on the status of the city’s preliminary engineering report (PER). In January 2021, the Council voted unanimously to partner with Widseth Smith and Nolting for the report at an estimated cost of $40,000. The study included environmental studies to ensure the project was eligible for grant funding from the USDA Rural Development program, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA).

The project would include the replacement of sewer and water mains, reconstruction and resurfacing of streets and the rehabilitation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The scope of the project would likely include Minnesota Avenue from the railroad tracks to Pine View Drive, Parkview Drive, Little Elk Drive and all of the streets west of Superior Avenue between it and U.S. Highway 10.

Pantzke informed the Council that the report was finalized during the first week of March and has been sent to the MPCA for review. The wastewater treatment plant was not included in initial discussions about the project, but it has been added to align with requirements of potential funding agencies.

“They want us to make sure we’re looking at everything that may need attention over the next 20 years,” Pantzke said. “That way we don’t get approved for funding to fix the streets and then turn right back around and start over again with something else.”

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