02-27-08 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 27, 2008 system and causes odor problems for the neighborhood. He also pointed out that at the time the sewer back up occurred at the Kath building, the grate system was already in place, but the grate was off when the Public Works Department responded to the call. That sewer backup resulted in significant damage to the Kath building. The Superintendent reported that On-Site Sanitation would like to retain their current dumpsite and estimates significant additional business costs to dump at the Met Council sites. On-Site has been researching the option of installing a grinder pump at their dumpsite to eliminate the possibility of blockages. The Superintendent felt that this grinder pump would not be a 100% guarantee against future problems noting that it has a by-pass option and will not grind bolts, nails, etc. The Superintendent reported that all other potable toilet businesses in the Metro area utilize the Met Council dumping sites. He further noted that the Met Council has indicated that they will honor the On-Site permit should the City renew it because it has been in existence for awhile, but they would not allow a dumpsite of this nature on a city interceptor line. The City Administrator reported that the major backup that caused the damage to the Kath building was the result of a blockage from bolts, nails, etc. He pointed out That the grinder pump On-Site is proposing would not grind these types of materials. He noted that the Kath backup resulted in a claim of approximately $90,000, which the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust paid on behalf of the City. On-Site did not immediately step up to resolve this claim, and the League had to pursue On-Site's insurance company. The result was that On-Site paid about 60% of the claim and the City paid 40%. On-Site's position was that in trying to unblock the blockage, the City actually pushed it back causing the backup in the Kath building. The City Administrator felt that was impossible given the City's use of the vactor truck to clear the backup. The Administrator repotted that the League has urged the City to look at whether it wants to continue issuing the disposal site permit to On-Site pointing out that it is perhaps a risk the City does not want to continue to take. McGraw pointed out the statement in On-Site's February 5, 2008 letter indicating that it would purchase additional insurance with the City named as a loss payee in the event of a sewer line back-up due to their waste disposal site. McGraw noted that the only way to guarantee that a similar back up does not occur is to discontinue the dumpsite. Blesener asked the size of the sewer line that will be installed at the Fridley dumpsite. The Superintendent estimated that it will be a minimum of 60 inches.