Delivery of building

• On March 4, the Board of City Commissioners approved the purchase of a pre-engineered metal building, which when finished will house 40,438 square feet of equipment storage, shop space, and office facilities for the various public works departments.
• Foundation work began over the summer.
• Building components began arriving in August.
• Construction is expected to begin this fall.

Soil remediation

• Heavy rains on August 5 required additional mitigation for the land treatment site on Lot 3, Industrial Park Addition (south of former Four Bottle Drive).
  • Existing berms on Lot 3 were built to a height of four feet around the perimeter. This added two feet of buffer in addition to the two feet required by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ).
  • Additional bio rolls were placed outside of berms for added protection.
  • Weekly Storm Water Pollution Protection Plan inspections by McGough Construction continue, as well as additional inspections any time a rain event exceeds a quarter-inch.

• NDDEQ sent permit approval for farming soil on additional land further west in Industrial Park Addition (Lot 5).
  • Berms on Lot 5 were built to five feet around the perimeter which included three feet of buffer in addition to the two feet required by the NDDEQ.

• NDDEQ site visit.
  • City Staff took a member of the Solid Waste Program with the Division of Waste Management to all current sites so they could take pictures and document that NDDEQ requirements were being met. Sites included both the land treatment sites in Industrial Park Addition and new Service Center Complex site at 1416 East Main Street. Earlier that day they had also been to the temporary holding site at the landfill.
  • NDDEQ recommended that some of the stormwater be hauled off from the land farming detention ponds to make room for possible future rain.
  • The City contacted the Division of Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Program to update the existing lagoon permit to include industrial waste.
  • Approval was given to haul the held stormwater from the sites to the lagoon.
• Permit requirements for berm setbacks limited land available to farm soil. This required the City to seek additional acreage to farm contaminated soil. Additional sites were identified.

• • South Half of the SW Quarter of Section 27, TWP 140N, Range 58W (Barnes County, immediately south of City limits).

• • • Approved by Board of City Commissioners on August 19, pending final discussions with owner.
    • NDDEQ staff conducted a visit at the new proposed site. While they were here, they also inspected the temporary holding site at the landfill, the Service Center Complex site, and the permitted soil treatment sites.
    • During final discussions with the owner title issues arose which will take time to resolve. As a result, two more sites were selected (see below), while the original site is still available for a backup, if needed.

• • NE Quarter of Section 10, TWP 141N, Range 59W (a portion of 98.9 acres, Barnes County, private land 15 minutes north of City limits).

• • • NDDEQ Solid Waste Program with the Division of Waste Management completed site visit.
    • Approved by Board of City Commissioners on September 2, 2025.
    • Permit application submitted to NDDEQ.

• • Auditor’s Lot 2 of the NE Quarter of Section 31, TWP 140N, Range 58W (31.45 acres, Barnes County, city-owned property near treatment lagoons).

• • • NDDEQ Solid Waste Program with the Division of Waste Management completed site visit.
    • Approved by Board of City Commissioners on September 2, 2025.
    • Permit application submitted to NDDEQ.

Soil sampling

• Soil sample test pits were taken within the proposed paved areas of the project site in mid-August. A total of 10 samples were obtained. Results from this testing were received by the City on September 3 with all samples exceeding the 100 mg/kg of total petroleum hydrocarbons threshold. This material had been previously accounted for in the land treatment quantities. Testing was done to determine if it could be excluded from the treatment.
• Soil samples were also obtained from the bottom of the sand/salt tent excavation at a depth of 5 to 6 feet. Two base samples were obtained and submitted for lab analysis. Results were favorable with lab analysis results all below the total petroleum hydrocarbons threshold of 100 mg/kg and no other parameters were detected above the laboratory reporting limit.