Coon Rapids Secures $118K In Watershed Grants To Advance Water Quality And Sewer Infrastructure Projects

Coon Rapids Secures $118K In Watershed Grants To Advance Water Quality And Sewer Infrastructure Projects

COON RAPIDS, MN — The Coon Rapids City Council has unanimously approved the acceptance of two grants totaling $118,000 from the Coon Creek Watershed District, supporting ongoing initiatives aimed at protecting water quality and strengthening the city’s sanitary sewer infrastructure.

The decision, made during the July 1 city council meeting, formalized both the grant awards and a cost-share agreement, reflecting a continued partnership between the city and the watershed district to improve environmental outcomes.

“We have great support from the watershed district,” said Tim Himmer, Coon Rapids Public Works Director. “These grants allow us to move forward with vital improvements in street sweeping and sewer line inspection.”

Enhancing Street Sweeping for Cleaner Waterways

One of the funded projects is an enhanced street sweeping program, which plays a critical role in preventing organic debris from entering storm drains and local creeks. In March, the watershed district initially contributed $15,000 toward the city’s purchase of a portable Trommel screening plant—a machine that filters collected street sweepings to enable the reuse of sand and other organic materials.

To support expanded street sweeping efforts over the next three years, the city previously received $76,733.50 from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The newly accepted grant of $69,100 from the watershed district will close a funding gap, enabling the city to cover additional staffing, debris disposal, and equipment upgrades.

Planned upgrades include a GPS retrofit for street sweepers, enhanced software for data tracking, and a bucket scale to weigh collected materials—key improvements for ensuring efficient and accurate reporting, Himmer said.

In-House Sewer Line Inspections with New CCTV Truck

The second initiative funded by the watershed district focuses on bringing sewer line inspections in-house with the purchase of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) truck. The vehicle, outfitted with high-resolution inspection cameras, will allow city crews to identify and document issues such as root intrusion, pipe blockages, and line breaks across the city's sanitary sewer system.

To date, the watershed district has increased its support to $75,000 for the project—adding $48,900 to a previous $26,100 award. Combined with a $225,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the city expects its out-of-pocket cost for the estimated $335,000 vehicle to be approximately $35,000.

According to Himmer, the city is still evaluating software options before placing an order for the truck.

Once acquired, the CCTV truck will support the city’s goal of televising one-fifth of Coon Rapids' sewer lines annually—equating to roughly 70 miles per year—as well as storm drain inspections. It will also assist with inspections related to the city’s residential street reconstruction program.

Additionally, using city tax dollars, the truck will help inspect sewer laterals—the lines running from main sewers to individual homes—in areas scheduled for street reconstruction five years in advance. This provides homeowners time to address any identified issues before new streets are installed.

“It is the property owner's responsibility to pay the cost of repairing the lateral,” Himmer noted.

Council Applauds Staff, Watershed Partnership

Council members Christopher Geisler and Brad Greskowiak praised both city staff and the watershed district for their collaboration and diligence in pursuing the funding.

About the Coon Creek Watershed District

Established in 1959 following a citizen-led petition, the Coon Creek Watershed District was created to serve as the local authority on ditch and drainage management across more than 92 square miles in central Anoka County. The district’s jurisdiction expanded by 15 square miles in 2012 to include parts of Coon Rapids, Fridley, Blaine, and Spring Lake Park, bringing the total to 107 square miles across eight cities, including Andover, Ham Lake, and Columbus.

Governed by a board of supervisors appointed by the Anoka County Board, the watershed district has independent taxing authority to fund its environmental protection efforts.

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