During the May 4 Hastings City Council meeting, City Administrator Dan Wietecha provided an update on the new
water treatment facilities and ongoing efforts to reduce future water rate increases. Construction at the Central Treatment Plant is progressing, with the raw water main nearly complete and major concrete work continuing through May. Visible wall construction is expected to begin in June.
On April 23, city leaders met with state legislators in St. Paul to push for additional funding through the state bonding bill. Wietecha says more assistance is critical, warning that without it, residents could eventually face water rate increases of up to 150 percent. A proposed 10 percent rate increase is currently scheduled for council review later this month.
City Administrator Wietecha pointed out a way for the community to take action.
(Actuality 1)
The council has also approved plans to bid on the Eastern Treatment Plant project while considering whether to delay some nitrate treatment components to help manage costs in the short term.
In addition, the city recently hired a litigation firm, Pawa Law Group, to explore possible lawsuits related to the Hastings water contamination. Wietecha cautioned, however, that any legal action would likely take years and would not provide immediate financial relief.
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