Resolutions for test well, Illinois Street projects approved
By Steve Van Kooten
Two major water projects in the city received another small step forward after a special common council meeting on June 25.
The council unanimously passed a resolution that authorizes the city to reimburse itself for expenses from the upcoming Illinois Street and Well 5 projects.
“The resolution in front of you is to notify the DNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) and is for IRS purposes for tax-exempt bonds that expenses may be incurred prior to the closing of the loan with the DNR. This is something that is required for both of the applications for Illinois Street and Well 5,” said Andy Kurtz, planning and community development manager with Vierbicher Associates.
The resolution gives the city the ability to reimburse itself for money spent on those projects until the loan funds become available.
The arrangement is considered “standard operating procedure” for the loans managed by the DNR.
Well #5
The city began discussing a new well after two of the city’s current wells had to be shut down for high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new standards for drinking water, which included setting the maximum contaminant levels of PFAS chemicals to four parts per trillion.
Further testing completed on Well 1 in November showed the contaminant levels dropped below the EPA maximum allowable limits, according to Larry Gates, the city of Prairie du Chien utilities director. Well 1 has since been put back into operation.
The city has tested their wells for PFAS since 2022.
Without Wells 1 and 2 in operation, the city does not meet the peak hourly demand for water usage. Gates said that the city can “just barely” meet its peak demand with Wells 1, 3 and 4, but the future of Well 1 is uncertain because of the previous high PFAS levels. With the addition of a fifth well, Gates confirmed the city would “definitely meet the peaks” in water usage.
“I feel for the future of Prairie du Chien that a new well in a new location would benefit us as well,” Gates told the council at the March 4 council meeting.
The cost for Well 5 is estimated to be approximately $2.19 million, including construction of the test well, production well, pumphouse and other needed equipment, according to a memo from Vierbicher to the city of Prairie du Chien.
This past October, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) approved a site for the well on a land parcel owned by the city. The area designated for Well 5 is west of 22nd Street and south of Campion Boulevard near the Alliant substation on the east side of the city.
The tentative schedule says the design phase concluded in late June, regulatory approval will go through early December, bidding will take place around the turn of the year, construction will begin around May of next year and construction is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.
Illinois Street
Work on Illinois Street will include replacing water and sewer lines between Washington and Webster streets. Curb, street and asphalt work are also part of the project’s scope.
On April 15, the council approved an application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding that could award as much as $1 million toward the project. The total cost for the work is estimated to be $1.9 million.
Illinois Street has “significant infrastructure issues that need to be addressed,” according to the city.
Replacing the service lines in that area is important because some of them are difficult to access, according to Larry Gates, the city’s utilities director.
“We want to get [the lines] replaced as fast as we can because it’s an issue if we have a water line that breaks underneath the railroad tracks; it’s not going to be good,” he said at the April 15 meeting. “We’re going to replace those with brand-new services.”
A representative from Vierbicher noted there are additional grants and low-interest loans that the city could use to help fund the project, including the safe drinking water loan through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
A public information meeting on the scope of the project, options for residents and an introduction to the contractor will be held in the future once the project is ready to move forward.
Contingent on the approval of their grant application, the city plans to start the project in 2026.
In attendance at the June 30 meeting were Alderpersons Nick Crary, Vicki Waller, Nate Bremmer, Mark Bowar, Kayla Ingham and Andy Ringgold. Alderpersons Jaaren Riebe and Bob Granzow were absent. Hemmer, City Clerk Tina Fuller, City Planner Nate Gilberts and Gates were present. City Administrator Chad Abram was absent.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 15.
