Treatment plant project receives extra $1.3 million

Tim “Chopper” McBride, district executive director, said Monday the additional money brings the amount of grants for the project to $4 million.

“It’s fantastic,” he said.

The grant was included in the bonding bill after local officials discussed the need for the project with state Sen. Tom Saxhaug and Rep. Tom Anzelc, as well as Sen. Tom Bakk and Rep. David Dill. Bakk and Dill in November will seek to represent the newly configured Senate District 3 and House District 3A which includes Koochiching County.

“They certainly responded to us favorably,” McBride said. “Because it’s shovel ready and we’re in the ground already, our project was applicable to the grant.”

McBride said free money for such projects is not generally available. “This is huge,” he said. “The idea that low interest loans and grants of $4 million is out there — it just doesn’t happen any more. Those were the old days.”

The additional grant money may lower the increased costs to residences served by the treatment plant, he said. However, he said, each collection entity — International Falls, East Koochiching, Ranier, and the others — will determine how to charge their customers.

“We will charge flat rate to each entity,” he said.

Meanwhile, McBride said the construction of a water storage building and a stabilization pond at the site has begun. Footings for the mercury phosphorus filter building are being dug.

“We made a decision (Monday) of starting to shut the 1950s part of the plant down,” he said. “Once that is shut down and demobilized, Grider (Construction, the contractor) will go in with equipment and start demolition and construction.”

While significant work has already been done, McBride said the project “now really starts.”