Joe Drennan
Staff Writer
Columbus Township took a major step on their way to providing water to residents last Wednesday when they ordered the first leg of a water main.

Property owners along the southwest corridor of Freeway Drive petitioned for water. Although the well hasnít been completed, town engineer Larry Bohrer suggested that the township hold an improvement hearing the night before to explain the possible project to the property owners.

With the positive feedback from the improvement hearing, the town board ordered the installation of the water main.

The reason Bohrer suggested the town board hold the hearing and ultimately approve the project is the properties will also see the installation of sewer. To have the sewer and water projects put together, the township can save time and money. The sewer pipe will go in on the west side of the road, and the water on the east side.

ìIt makes sense to combine those two types of projects,î Bohrer said. ìThey can both be done under the same project because the same equipment is used and most times it is the same contractor that does the work.î

Supervisor Tom Hefty questioned why the sewer would go one one side of the street and the water the other, yet boring under the road would still be necessary. Bohrer explained that either way there would be boring under the road to connect to the different properties. Bohrer added that the west side of the road was chosen for the sewer because Gander Mountain already has their portion of the sewer there, and the site of the well for water is on the east side of the street.

Bohrer says that the property owners that will benefit from the first leg of water could see water by fall 2005.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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