City Council Meeting Date: June 17, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Justin Wagner, Utilities Manager
David Bennett, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider Approving Professional Service Agreement for Northwest Water Tower.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council considers a Motion approving the Professional Service Agreement with SEH Inc. for the Northwest Water Tower.
Summary Report:
On March 18, 2025, the City Council authorized staff to redirect federal funds to the Northwest Water Tower. Staff initiated Request for Proposals (RFP's) to five (5) qualified engineering firms and received three (3) proposals.
Staff reviewed the proposals and is recommending SEH Inc. be retained for professional services. SEH Inc. has a long history of similar work.
In 2023, the City of Northfield was successful in obtaining $3.945 million in federal funding through a Section 219 grant that will be administered through the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). The total project needs to be under $5.26 million where the ACOE is 75% cost share, and the City is 25% cost share or $1.315 million. The project cost includes administration work done by the ACOE for bidding purposes and construction observation services resulting in a project bid cost of $5.0 million as requested by the ACOE. The City will pay the ACOE its 25% cost share from the water fees, either from existing cash in the fund and/or debt. This is under review with the rate analysis that will be coming forward for future City Council review and direction.
City staff is currently working to obtain a letter of funding commitment from the Federal Corps of Army Engineers. They have verbally agreed and are expecting to send that to the City next week. It would have been sooner if not for some of their staff out on leave. Additionally, an initial template agreement draft is under review by staff and the City Attorney and expect that agreement to be brought to...
Click here for full text