A project to replace water lines for the City of Rugby and other area water users might receive more financial help than previously expected, according to North Dakota District 14 Representative Jon Nelson.

Nelson attended a city public works committee meeting on Feb. 16 at city hall to present information he said came from his perspective as a state representative, a member of the All Seasons Water Users District Board and a water rate payer in the City of Rugby.

Nelson said he became concerned when he received a call from the state water commission about an application they had approved that would partially fund the replacement of asbestos-cement water lines in Rugby’s system. In the cost-share agreement, the state would fund 60% of the cost of replacing sections of the line made of asbestos cement. The city would agree to fund the remaining 40%.

“The project as I understand it is $8.3 million for replacing the entire water line, correct?” Nelson asked Mayor Sue Steinke, who attended the meeting.

Steinke told Nelson the entire line would not be replaced, only the older sections containing asbestos.

Dave Bednarz, chair of the public works committee said the cost for the project “sounds about right.” He also confirmed some parts of the asbestos-cement pipes had been replaced with newer materials due to past water line breaks.

“It would be worthwhile to put this project in front of the (Northwest Area Water System) Advisory Committee for a capital project with NAWS, which would take the city residents and the rural residents out of the picture of having to make that payment if it was approved by (NAWS),” Nelson said. “So, I guess I would ask that we would follow up with that step before we go any further because that’s a funding source that would be 100% funded (through NAWS).”

NAWS serves several Minot-area municipalities including All Seasons Water Users District, which buys its water from the City of Rugby.

Nelson also expressed concerns about engineering costs. Nelson said City Engineer Jim Olson “said this (project) was a wish list and there was no reason to get alarmed at the cost of that. Then, it comes for funding in this (state water commission budget), so all of a sudden, I’m alarmed.”

Olson did not attend the committee meeting due to illness.

Bednarz told Nelson, “I don’t think (the line replacement project) is anything that we’re that hot on right now. It’s on our to-do list. B and J (Excavating) said we could expect more leaks and more costs and we put it on the list. Nobody knew about NAWS until about 30 days ago. That’s when it first came up, when Sue and Jim were on a call.”

Bednarz added, “The thing is, Jon, there’s nobody on this council who knows water lines and sewer lines and has the knowledge that Jim has. He’s gotten us money through grants and different programs that not one of us would have taken charge of.

“When we broke our water lines on Saturday and Sunday on the north side, he wanted to come down,” Bednarz added. “I told him, ‘No, wait until we have our committee meeting and we’ll look at it then.’ So, we are watching what we’re doing. We’ve never had an engineer with the city before.”

Bednarz agreed to attend the advisory committee meeting for NAWS along with Nelson. The meeting is open to the public and will take place on Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m. at the Minot Public Works office located at 1035 31st Street SE.

In other business, the committee tabled discussions of water valve shut off maintenance in the city and new technology to locate water line breaks.

The public safety committee heard an update on police activity from Rugby Police Chief John Rose. In January, officers responded to 95 calls including five for traffic collisions and 18 for medical assistance. Officers issued six traffic citations, including one for speeding, one for stop or yield violations and four for other violations. Officers made seven arrests in January, including five for driving under the influence and two for outstanding warrants.

Public Safety Committee Chair Wayne Trottier asked Rose if he could create a graph comparing arrests in the city over a period of years. Rose said he would look into graphing the information.

Trottier also asked about evaluation procedures for officers. He brought his concerns to the city personnel committee meeting held later that day.

Personnel committee members pored over sections of the city employee handbook at their meeting. Trottier pointed out many sections of the handbook had not been updated for about 20 years.

Other updates the committee discussed included comp time, or paid time off, for salaried city employees such as the director of the Rugby Job Development Authority. Trottier and other committee members also mentioned concerns shared by city workers about the role of city council members. The committee agreed to develop a code of ethics for city council members.

Committee recommendations and reports will be brought before the Rugby City Council’s regular meeting, scheduled for March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rugby City Hall.