City Council Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
City Administrator
From: James McDermott, Water Quality Technician
David Bennett, City Engineer/Public Works Director
Title
Consider Motion Authorizing Submittal of Grant Application for Final Design and Construction Plans for the Removal of Ames Mill Dam
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the Motion authorizing the submittal of application for funding from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.
Summary Report:
On November 21, 2023, the City Council adopted the Ames Mill Dam Feasibility Study Recommendation Option 3 - Long Rock Rapids (Attachment 1), and authorized staff to explore phase 2 - ownership transfer from Post Holding Inc. to the City of Northfield and exploration of funding.
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) is providing a funding opportunity for projects that aim to protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. The LCCMR reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the Minnesota legislature from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). Approximately $121 million is anticipated to be available from the ENTRF through this program for projects beginning July 1, 2027.
Staff have prepared an application (Attachment 2) for submittal for funding from the ENRTF for final engineering design and construction plans for the removal of the Ames Mill Dam and installation of long rock rapids.
The City currently has a preliminary design scope of work with Barr Engineering that will be coming forward to Council later this spring for consideration. In addition, the City and Post Holdings are progressing on the agreement to transfer the ownership of the Ames Mill Dam to the City. More details will be coming forward to Council on the agreement at a future date.
It is anticipated that the legislative approval on the ownership transfer of the Dam would occur in the next legislative session (2027). This proposed grant for final design isn’t dependent on the ownership transfer. The preliminary design work is planned in 2026, so timing for this grant seems to be a good opportunity to pursue.
A summary presentation will be sent out in a supplemental memo.
Alternative Options:
If the grant is not submitted staff would need to find another source of funds to begin the plan design phase of the project.
Financial Impacts:
The proposed funding provides for a 75% State and 25% Local match. The local match can include work related to this project that has already been completed, including the Ames Mill Dam Feasibility Study. Staff is requesting $800,000 in funds from the ENRTF for final project design and proposes using Stormwater funds to satisfy the remaining 25% match requirement.
Estimate final design project cost = 1,068,000
Grant Funds = $800,000
Local Cash Match = $108,000
Local Cash Match from previously completed work = $159,429
Tentative Timelines:
City Council Application Approval March 17, 2026
Applications Due March 18, 2026
Project First Round Selection June 17, 2026
Project Proposal Presentation to LCCMR June 29 - July 2, 2026
Funding recommendations adopted by LCCMR December 16, 2026
Project Start July 1, 2027