Variance granted to construct regional water pipeline to Sibley, Iowa
Apr. 26—WORTHINGTON — The community of Sibley, Iowa, is one step closer to its connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System after action by the Nobles County Board of Adjustment and Nobles County Planning Commission during separate meetings Wednesday evening.
Representatives from Lewis & Clark and Banner & Associates appeared before the Board of Adjustment seeking a variance to construct a pipeline that will carry water from an existing Lewis & Clark water line 7.6 miles south along King Avenue to the Iowa state line. From there, the pipeline will follow the state line road one-half mile east and then be bored under the road and into Iowa.
Because Nobles County requires an 80-foot setback from the center of a township road, and a 125-foot setback from the centerline of a county road for construction, Lewis & Clark sought a variance in order to construct the water line closer to the right-of-way.
Their plans call for building the 12-inch PVC pipeline within 53 feet to 63 feet of a roadway's centerline.
Scott Vander Muelen, representing Banner & Associates, said abiding by the county's setback requirements would mean burying their pipeline farther out into farm fields. That makes it more difficult to access the lines if they need to in the future, and creates more of a hardship for ag land owners who might have to work around hydrants constructed over the pipeline. Those hydrants are in place for maintenance and operation.
"If they have a leak, they have a place to blow that water out before it gets into the system," Vander Muelen said, adding that the hydrants are also used to drain the pipe down for a repair or to remove any contaminated water.
Nobles County Planning and Zoning Administrator Kathy Henderscheidt said for those reasons, the request is to construct the pipeline just outside the road right-of-way.
"Any of the farmers would rather have it there than out in the middle of their field," she said. "If they were to put (the pipeline) in the road right-of-way, we wouldn't even be here (to consider a variance), but the road right-of-way is full."
Vander Muelen said easements have been secured from 22 of the 28 parcels along the route in Minnesota. The remaining six parcels are owned by two individuals, he added.
Thus far, Lewis & Clark has 240 miles of water pipeline in operation and another 49 miles of pipeline under construction. The 16-mile line that will take water from Nobles County into Osceola County is the final portion of the regional water system to be constructed. Sibley has been waiting for its arrival for 33 years.
In granting the variance, Banner & Associates and Lewis & Clark proceeded to the 7:30 p.m. Planning Commission meeting to request a conditional use permit for constructing the pipeline out of the right-of-way. That request was also approved, and will now advance to the Nobles County Board of Commissioners at 9 a.m. May 2 for consideration.
Vander Muelen said they are still working on acquiring the necessary easements in Iowa, and the hope is to bid the project in mid-June. Once a contractor is selected, it will take another month or two for materials to be ordered and arrive. Construction on the pipeline is expected to begin in September, and continue as late into the fall as weather permits. They would then start work again in the spring to complete the project.
Henderscheidt suggested the commission not put a sunset on project construction due to supply chain issues.
"It's been a long time coming for these people to get water," she added.
