01-28-2004 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Vadnais Water Quality: This issue was discussed at the last neighborhood meeting. The City of Vadnais Heights has taken steps to address water quality concerns with their system. They shut down Well #1 that served the Twin Lake area given this well had high levels of iron and manganese. (See Vadnais Water Quality report by well number attached.) Also, we conducted a sampling of five private wells in the Twin Lake area, water supplied by Vadnais to Twin Lake Court, and Little Canada water from City Hall. Vadnais water is superior to the private wells (other than those that are softening the water going to outside faucets), and Vadnais water appears to be a more than adequate alternative to our water. (Details of the test information and Vadnais well water quality are attached.) Cost of Providing Little Canada Water: It is physically possible to serve the Twin Lake area with water from the City of Little Canada. Our engineer estimates an additional cost of between $150,000 and $200,000. (Lower than earlier estimates.) It is important to remember that this estimate includes two freeway crossings to eliminate a long dead end from our supply. Based on these rough estimates, the cost to each property owner would range from $1,900 to about $2,850 per assessable property in addition to the estimated $5,600 cost to provide Vadnais Heights' water. Our City Council will consider bringing Little Canada water to the Twin Lake area if the residents are willing to pay the additional costs to do so. Looping of the Water System if Served by Vadnais Heights: Vadnais Heights does not have immediate plans to create the loop of the water main through the Twin Lake area. It may happen in the next two to three years, but there is no guarantee due to uncertainty regarding development of vacant tracts through which this main would be run. Therefore, to build the main today will require a dead -end. Dead -ends are not uncommon, but a looped system is preferable as water can stagnate on longer dead -end mains. To resolve this, periodic flushing of the mains by Public Works is required. Potential Hamel Court Development: A seven -lot subdivision was approved off of Twin Lake Road that would further impact existing streets due to construction activity. By building the City improvements at this time, the developer would be required to tie storm drainage into our new system that discharges to the freeway versus installing a pond on their property that would discharge to Twin Lake. (The trunk line to drain this area would need to be installed under Twin Lake Road to connect to the freeway right -of -way.) The developer would also connect to City water versus drilling seven wells to serve the newly created lots. Cost Updates: Based on the City's assessment policies, the per lineal foot cost for the street improvement would be approximately $51.50 per assessable lineal foot. The cost for water supplied from the City of Vadnais Heights would be $5,600.00 per water connection. If Little Canada water were provided, the water main cost would increase by $1,900 to $2,850 per connection with the final amount to be based on actual costs of extending main to /from this area. Connection charges to hook -up to water, regardless of the source are currently $300 per connection for the water availability charge, $200.50 for permits, $145.00 for a water meter, and the actual costs of 2