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 futur...
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