If sharing wastewater treatment costs with Grand Forks were based on population, East Grand Forks residents would pay 14 percent. If the cost was shared based on flow volume, East Siders would pay 10 percent.
But, under a detailed cost analysis done by a local engineering firm, EGF residents will have to pay only 5 percent of the expense.
That number helped convince Ron Vonasek, a previously skeptical member of the EGF City Council about sharing services with its sister city. Vonasek voted to uphold Mayor Lynn Stauss' June veto of a plan to share treatment in what's known as the wastewater interconnect project. It would mean running a pipe under the Red River to use Grand Forks' treatment plant.
"I wasn't against it before; I voted to slow things down because I had too many unanswered questions," Vonasek said. "I think my questions have been answered and we need to move forward with it."
Monday's cost analysis by Steve Burian of AE2S was presented to 18 staff members and elected officials from each side of the river. While Grand Forks officials have favored it all along, there's been some resistance in East Grand Forks, because of cost unknowns and surrendering the city's autonomy to its bigger neighbor.
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"As a consultant, I have more leeway to say things than city staff does," Burian said. "So, I can tell you that if Grand Forks has some new cost in the future, there's no way to stick East Grand Forks with it."
The latest figures show that an EGF resident's monthly water bill will go up about $17, about the same as if the city opts to fix its system rather than combine with Grand Forks. However, consulting engineer Greg Boppre said going alone would cost more if the state of Minnesota requires EGF to clean up the phosphorus in its lagoons.
EGF City Council members will hold a work session on the waterwater interconnect before voting on it. If approved, the city's water would begin being treated in Grand Forks in 2013.
"I think this is a good deal for both cities, but I also know it's difficult politically because it's a shift in how we do things," said Mike Pokrzywinski, an EGF council member.
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send email to rbakken@gfherald.com .
