Consider Authorization to Apply for Grant Funds to Assist with the Implementation of the City's Wellhead Protection Plan

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) administers Source Water Protection (SWP) grants to public water suppliers each year in an effort to assist with the implementation of programs that further the cause of protecting the drinking water supply.  Funding for the SWP grant program comes from the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment Fund, and all public water suppliers have the opportunity to receive these funds but eligibility for categories of grants is determined by the type of public water supply system.  Eligible activities must protect the drinking water source, and examples of activities that can be funded through the program include:

• Well sealing
• Construction of new wells
• Installation of monitoring wells
• Well inspections (video log, gamma log)
• Public educate regarding drinking water protection
• Well inventory updates
• Contaminant source inventory updates
• Membrane filter upgrades
• Fuel storage tank management
• Rural water connections
• Clean up of illicit dumping near wells
• Property owner support to manage nitrogen
• Spill prevention and emergency response plan development

In 2011 the City was successful in securing a grant through the SWP program, in the amount of $8,774, and used those funds for public education (Ramsey Resident articles, property owner mailings, and an Environmental Expo booth), locating private wells within the Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA), contacting and locating underground storage tank owners and large quantity agricultural chemical users.  All these activities were undertaken to better understand the magnitude of all the items that could affect the City's DWSMA.  Since we have successfully fulfilled our obligations with respect to this 2011 grant, we now qualify for continued grant eligibility on an on-going basis.

Staff is now seeking Council approval to submit another SWP grant application to continue with public education initiatives and further refine and update the private well, underground storage tank, and contaminated property inventory within the City's DWSMA.

Chapter 5 of the City's current Wellhead Protection Plan outlines objectives and plans of action for protecting out drinking water supply.  The tasks listed in this plan are consistent with the activities scheduled to be completed with this grant request.  Since we are obligated to perform these tasks anyway, it makes sense that we look for alternative funding sources to assist is defraying the costs of implementing our wellhead protection goals.

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the submittal of a Source Water Protection grant application to the Minnesota Department of Health.  It is further recommended that the City Engineer be allowed to execute the agreement on behalf of the public water supply system.

Completion of the grant application will be accomplished using staff time.  If successful in securing funding through the program, the grant funds will be used to purchase materials and pay consultants within the City's consulting pool to complete certain tasks as identified.

Motion to authorize staff to submit a Minnesota Department of Health Source Water Protection grant application by authorizing the City Engineer as the authority to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the public water supply system.