The second meeting in August for Silver Bay’s City Council was appended to a public hearing for the 2027 Citywide Street & Utility Improvements Phase 1B, Amended Preliminary Report. Said report was given by City Engineer Josh Stier and covered a continuation of the ongoing and much-needed repairs to Silver Bay’s aging infrastructure through 2027.
The next phase’s full street and utility construction will cover Bell Circle, the stretch of Adams Boulevard from Banks Boulevard to Outer Drive, and Aiken Circle. Cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP), a less extensive method for restoring piping that does not require excavation, will be applied in some of the surrounding area, mostly south and east of the main restoration zone.
The use of CIPP in some areas is part of the ‘Hybrid Rehabilitation and Replacement’ approach the team has selected as best for the job, methodically selecting where full open cut replacement of underground lines and street replacements are needed most and using CIPP for the rest. This cuts costs and lowers the amount of extensive construction while still tackling the issues most pressing for Silver Bay, such as inflow and infiltration (I&I) leaks in the sewer system.
Stier noted that this hybrid method would save the City and residents considerable money in operation and maintenance compared to if they did not do the project at all. Stier did not mince words about the current condition of Silver Bay’s roads: They’re not good. “It’s all falling apart at the same time; it needs to be replaced,” he stated, pointing out the 70-year-old age and poor conditions of the cast iron watermain pipe and vitrified clay pipe (VCP) for sanitary sewer. The watermain is undersized, buried at too shallow a level in places, and dealing with service shutoffs due to the failing systems, as well as non-functioning hydrants and gate valves. Meanwhile, the sanitary sewer has its own set of problems with offset joints, cracking, broken sections, and deteriorating manholes. The presentation included a photo showing plant roots growing through joints in the pipe – not exactly what you want to see in a main city utility line.
Even using the hybrid method of restoration and replacement, the price for these fixes is not cheap, especially given steep cost increases across the board within the past few years. The estimated project cost is currently at $7,692,000, with a bit over $4 million of that for street and storm improvements, just over $2 million for sewer improvements, and around $1.6 million for water system improvements. These costs take into account construction, engineering, and contingencies, though as always with estimates, the situation may change as the project progresses and time goes on. The project is being funded through the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), Minnesota’s Public Facilities Authority (PFA), and a likely funding package from the City of Silver Bay. Lake County will also be paying for the portion it owns, on Adams Boulevard from Banks Boulevard to Outer Drive.
The end result of the hefty project will be a refreshed Silver Bay. New street surfacing will include roadways, curbs, sidewalks, and driveways with easier accessibility for the disabled, as it will be ADA-compliant. Note that sidewalks will continue to be only on one side of streets with the possible exception of the road owned by Lake County. Improvements to the storm system and roads will correct surface drainage issues. Replacing underground pipes for the watermain, sanitary sewer and storm sewers will reduce water breaks, sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration, storm sewer localized flooding, and greatly improve efficiency and reliability across the board.
The majority of work on this phase of the project is slated to be complete by the end of 2027, with the remainder extending into 2028. This is following on work completed so far, with Phase 1A this year having concentrated on construction within the northern section of Adams Boulevard and Arthur Circle. Stier was positive about progress moving forward and suggested getting ahead of schedule if possible to secure bids at the start of 2027 rather than waiting until spring.
The presentation and public comment period on Phase 1B wrapped up with no big complaints and an eventual approval by the Council. The Silver Bay City Council meeting proper began directly afterwards, with Councilor Richard DeRosier sitting in for Mayor Wade LeBlanc, who was absent this session.
In smaller business, notice was received of the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) Legislator of Distinction awards for 2026, which this year included Minnesota Senator Grant Hauschild and Minnesota Representative Roger Skraba, with the Council thanking them for their service. The only consent agenda item of note was setting a special meeting of the Canvassing Board on November 10th to certify results of the November 3rd City General Election.
Resolutions passed without a fuss included #47A with a correction due to a spreadsheet formula error in the originally passed #47, concerning cost assessments for landowners connected to Phase 1A of the Citywide Street & Utility Improvements. #50 approved continued advertising on the Arena’s Zamboni.
A more complicated matter was a proposal for easement acquisition as part of the Perimeter Diversion Ditching Project being planned to help protect Silver Bay from flooding from the north and west. Although the proposal has been recommended for approval by the City’s Public Works Committee, the Council agreed to hold a meeting between Project leaders Bolton & Menk and landowners prior to any acceptance. This meeting should not incur any additional costs for the project.
Finally, proposed costs to add certain security improvements at City Hall came in considerably higher than expected. After some discussion on what to prioritize and the problems at hand, the Council decided to table the current proposal and search for possible alternative offers.
