The Rugby City Council approved a proposal to use state and federal COVID relief funds to test for the virus in city wastewater at their regular meeting, held Jan. 3 at city hall.

North Dakota District 14 Representative Jon Nelson was on hand to explain the program, which would require city workers to collect samples of wastewater from lift stations in the city. The samples would be sent to North Dakota State University to test for the presence of the COVID-19 virus, according to Nelson. The testing is part of a program administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

Nelson said he became familiar with the program through information presented to the North Dakota House Appropriations Committee by the North Dakota Department of Corrections, who had wastewater studied at their correctional facilities.

“It’s amazing, as you look at their graphs, how the wastewater does predict an outbreak,” Nelson said.

Nelson said analysts compare the number of positive cases with spikes in COVID virus numbers in the samples. “It follows exactly,” Nelson said of the relationship. “(Correctional facilities) are a more controlled environment than a city but in that controlled environment, it is almost exact how it predicts an outbreak.”

Nelson estimated 30 North Dakota cities participate in the program. He noted he had spoken with Devils Lake Mayor Richard Johnson and Devils Lake’s city engineer about that city’s participation in the program.

“I don’t know if I could say it’s as exact as the penitentiary, but I think (the engineer) is looking at that data and seeing the positive results,” Nelson said.

“We have some industries here in Rugby that are nearing a breaking point,” Nelson added. “I’ll use health care as the main example of that. Health care workers have been in very much a crisis situation throughout the last two years. And one more incident might cause a shortage of workers we might never recover from. So, I think it’s important that we as a community stand up and do as much as we can to support health care, our schools and the greater community.”

Nelson said the test results don’t trace directly back to a household or individual, since the collection takes place at areas where wastewater drains such as lift stations or lagoons.

Council member Wayne Trottier moved to approve Rugby’s participation in the program. The council approved Trottier’s motion with a unanimous vote.

In other business, the council approved amendments and transfers for the city’s 2022 budget. Transfers included $50,000 for lift station generators; $55,000 for a generator for the Rugby Armory and $15,000 to the fire department for air packs for a total of $20,000 reserved. The council also approved a list of 18 budget amendments.

Council members also approved city committee reports, which included information that a city recreation manager position was still open and the finance committee was still considering a water rate study for the city.

The Rugby Public Works Department reported a gauge on a carbon dioxide tank at the city water plant had frozen Dec. 31, giving a false “empty” reading. The tank actually contained enough carbon dioxide for the plant. Water plant employees said they were thankful they were able to reach a person to repair the gauge.

Engineer Jim Olson gave the council updates on various city projects. He presented a bill for $27,896.40 from Swanson Construction for work done on the city swimming pool building. The council approved payment of the bill. Olson also told the council he had received a signed contract from Wagner Construction, Inc., for work to be done on an area near 2 ½ Avenue in Rugby. Olson said representatives from the city and Wagner Construction would meet soon.

Olson added he had heard of more possible delays on repairs to North Dakota Highway 3 through the city from the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Olson said he had spoken with representatives from Pipe Detectives of Jamestown about televising sewer lines near the city baseball diamonds, but more work would have to wait due to the weather.

In other business, the council accepted a non-exclusive bid for fuel from Harper Oil. The council also approved local banks as depositories for city funds for 2022 and approved an advertising agreement for 2022 with The Pierce County Tribune.

The council also approved a recommendation from the personnel committee to update the city employee manual to include changes in grievance procedures and include Juneteenth as a holiday for city employees.

The Council approved minutes from December regular and special meetings, the municipal court report for December and minutes and financials from the Rugby Job Development Authority.

The council approved bingo and raffle permit applications from the Rugby Senior Citizens Center and the Barton Sportsman’s Club. The council also approved a motion to designate Feb. 13-19 as Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda Week in Rugby.

The Rugby City Council will hold their next regular meeting Monday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rugby City Hall.