By Louis Hoglund
Pine Lakes property owners will be surveyed in the coming weeks, to determine the level of interest in connecting to Perham city sewer.
The Pine Lakes Improvement District will be conducting the survey, which will be the key step in determining whether the project should be considered. There are about 700 homes around Big Pine and Little Pine.
Discussions about connecting to Perham municipal wastewater treatment began late last summer. Connecting to Perham city water is also being considered. The project could be accompanied by road improvements and annexation of land from four townships that surround the Pine Lake chain.
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The Perham City Council gave the go ahead to proceed with the survey.
After the survey is completed, a three phase feasibility study would be conducted. Cost of the study would be about $30,000, which would be split evenly between the city and the Pine Lakes Improvement District (LID).
The first phase calls for analysis of existing treatment facilities and infrastructure to determine what improvements will be necessary to extend sewer and water. This phase is projected to cost $10,200.
Ulteig Engineers will be brought in for the second phase to research elevations, which will determine how much of the sewered area will flow by gravity, and how many lift stations will be needed to pump wastewater to the Perham treatment facilities.
Phase 3 calls for analysis of all the information and an engineering report. This phase would determine the cost to homeowners, and a timeline for construction. This phase will be about $19,600.
Pine Lake property owners will receive a letter and a voting card from the improvement district. The ballot will ask property owners whether or not to proceed with the engineering feasibility study.
The project will have a far-reaching impact on the area. Roads will be torn up, to some degree, during installation of water and sewer lines. This would make it a logical time to upgrade roads.
With municipal water and sewer available, it will likely accelerate second tier development in the lake areas.
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Four townships will be impacted financially by the annexation, as high-value lakeshore property is absorbed by the city.
