02-11-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 23, 2004 owners abandon their wells. Even if a property owner connects to the watermain, the well can be maintained for watering of lawns, etc. One property owner as]<ed if an 8-inch watermain would provide adequate water pressure. The City Engineer indicated that an 8-inch line would adequately serve this residential area. The only reason to put in a 12-inch line is if Vadnais Heights intends the line to serve a commercial business area. Fahey suggested that if Vadnais Heights wants a 12-inch line, and joint powers agreement with that city should require that they pay the cost difference from a 8-inch line to a 12-inch line. Carl Carlson, 261 Twin Lake Trail, felt that most of the property owners wanted a looped water system to address concerns about water quality and pressure. Fahey noted that there are other areas of the City that have dead- end watermains. The City flushes ail of its watermains, and flushes the dead-end lines more frequently to address water quality concerns. One property owner asked the cost of constant flushing of the dead-end line versus looping it. She noted the 40 property owners who did not respond to the City's survey and as]<ed what they were thinking. She also asked why the project had to have a 2004 start date. The City Administrator noted that to loop the watermain at this time would require Little Canada watermain that would have to be brought under the freeway. Estimated cost of doing so is $150,000 to $200,000. The Administrator noted that the City periodically flushes all watermains, and that the additional cost of flushing a dead-end main more frequently would not come close to exceeding the cost of bringing in a looped main from Little C~uiada. He also noted that while concern has been expressed about the quality of Vadnais Heights' water, there are periodic algae blooms with St. Pau( water that generate complaints. The Administrator noted that the cost of providing Little Canada watermain to the Twin Lake area could be from $1,900 to $3,000 additional to each property owner. The Administrator noted that assessments must meet the "benefits received" test. Little Canada's assessments have met that test in the past, but this increased level of assessment might make that difficult. One option would be for property owners to sign a "Waiver of the Right to Appeal Special Assessment". However, the City Administrator did not believe the City would be successfrd is obtaining those waivers from all of the impacted property owners. The property owner again asked about the 2004 start date and asked if 2005 was an option. The City Administrator pointed out that the quality of the street is a driving factor in the timing of the project.