Town Square water feature leaks

The paddlewheel fountain in downtown Grand Forks is getting a fix…but it comes at a cost.

The city council gave preliminary approval to a plan last night (Monday) that would overhaul the fountain to the tune of $500,000 dollars. The project would remove and replace the foundation for the ponds and update the piping and controls for the water feature.

Ben Williams of WFW engineers says the current systems in rough shape.  “A lot of the water features are broken.  We can’t get access to fix pipes because they are buried.”

Some council members questioned the cost of the renovation and the long-term plan for Town Square. City Administrator Todd Feland says the park and water feature is not going away.

A combination of EDA dollars and Beautification Program funds will pay for the repairs.