WILLMAR — Two communities in west central Minnesota will receive federal funds toward major water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach recently announced that federal funds are being awarded to the communities of Lake Lillian in Kandiyohi County and Hanley Falls in Yellow Medicine County. Each community is receiving $750,000.
The two awards are among more than $9 million in federal funding secured for 11 infrastructure projects across Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District, according to a Jan. 29 news release from the congresswoman.
The federal funds for the city of Lake Lillian are to advance the final stages of its infrastructure overhaul. This investment will help the city modernize its failing water and sewer systems and address long-standing water safety concerns, according to the news release.
Lake Lillian is seeking $3.5 million in state bonding funds as the final phase of a comprehensive project to rebuild its water and wastewater infrastructure. With state and federal help, the community of 246 people has invested $17.6 million toward the work, according to a presentation by the city and its engineering firm to members of the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee in December.
Hanley Falls, with a population of 243, is also in the midst of a major infrastructure rebuild. It has completed $6.1 million in work on its water distribution system and the installation of storm sewer lines.
It is seeking $6.4 million in state bond funds toward an estimated $13 million worth of work to replace failing sanitary sewer and replace water mains that date back to the 1890s, according to information the city provided state legislators in advance of the upcoming session that begins Feb. 17.
