Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Sanitary Sewer and Water Service Agreement with Blue Earth County for the Blue Earth County Public Works Facility.

Adoption of the attached resolution.

As part of the Public Works Facility Project for Blue Earth County, the County has made a request for utility services for their facility to be provided by the City of Mankato. The County desires to attach the property to municipal services as an environmental benefit versus constructing a well and septic system for the facility.

The City Code contemplates that the City may entertain service agreements for such services to parties outside the community. The draft agreement includes the following elements:

• The utility service would be for water and sewer service for the Public Works Facility only. The utilities will not be oversized; thus, no other users could connect to these services.
• Blue Earth County would be constructing the services at their own expense.
• If easements are necessary, Blue Earth County must obtain those easements at their own expense.
• We anticipate construction to start no later than April 20, 2025, and be substantially complete by September 2025. We anticipate commencement of services to start no later than December 31, 2025.
• There is a known well on the property that is intended to be used for fire suppression only.
• Blue Earth County will be considered a Significant Industrial User for their wastewater and will require an Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit. This permit will be reviewed by staff upon submittal. 

Included in the City Code is language that indicates that service providers outside the City Limits would be charged 200% the rate of users in the City Limits. The County has asked that the City consider making an exemption for public entities given that the fees for the utility services would be paid by taxpayers, and a majority of them are from Mankato. This is an item we can discuss further in 2025.