A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Officials take part in a ceremonial groundbreaking effort June 10 in Carlton, where a waterline will be extended to the west to help alleviate decades of problematic water supply.
After two decades of effort, Twin Lakes Township will get its waterline, with clean healthy water and plenty of it. Local officials, waterline constructors and political dignitaries gathered June 10 outside the Four Seasons events center in Carlton for speeches and an official groundbreaking.
"Wow, it's really happening," said Twin Lakes Township chair Diane Felde-Finke, admitting that she got a little choked up when she was practicing her speech at home before the ceremony.
The state legislature included $7.5 million for a waterline from Carlton to Schmitz Road in the bonding bill passed last October. Construction started last week and officials are hopeful the line from Carlton along the Minnesota Highway 210 route will reach the Interstate 35 bridge by this fall. Extensions will be constructed at County State Aid Highway 61 to serve the county transportation building and Olsonville homes, and to Schmitz Road residents past the transfer station on Hwy. 210.
State Rep. Mike Sundin (District 11) said a bottle of sediment-filled water shared with legislators likely helped get the bill passed. Felde-Finke credited collaboration between Twin Lakes and the Carlton City council, cooperation with Sundin and Sen. Jason Rarick, alliances with the county board and Fond du Lac Band and teamwork by supporters and local officials.
Twin Lakes Township supervisor Randy Willie was "giddy" and taking photos with his grandson and others in front of the long black pipes that were being fused by workers. Project manager Lance Lindahl said they will drill underground and pull the pipe through where they can to avoid disrupting the surface ground.
