05-25-1994 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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SAINT PAOL 4 AAAA ^s• DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Stacy M. Becker, Director CITY OF SAINT PAUL Norm Coleman, Mayor May 18, 1994 Councilmember Esther Newcome Metropolitan Council Mears Park Centre 230 East Fifth Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 600 City Hall Annex Telephone: 612- 266 -6070 Saint Paul, MN 55102 Facsimile: 612 - 292 -7857 Commissioner Judy Schotzko MWCC Mears Park Centre 230 East Fifth Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 Dear Councilmember Newcome and Commissioner Schotzko: Due to previous commitments, I am unable to attend the important May 18 meeting to discuss the reconveyance of the old Belt Line interceptor from the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (MWCC). I have requested Councilmember Janice Rettman to present my comments. The return of the Belt Line sewer is an important issue that affects the cities of Maplewood, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, North Saint Paul, Gem Lake, Oakdale and Saint Paul. Each of us depend on the Belt Line sewer to safely and conveniently carry stormwater away from our communities to the Mississippi River. Since the 1970's, Saint Paul and the MWCC have worked to find an acceptable -to -all resolution to the issue of stormwater flow from suburban communities into the regional sewer system which happens to be located in Saint Paul. Overflow from suburban areas emptied into Lake Phalen and Beaver Lake, and then into the MWCC Belt Line sewer. Not only was Saint Paul charged for treatment of this suburban stormwater flow, but the flow used important capacity in the sanitary sewer system and treatment facility. In 1984, the Metropolitan Council Lake Overflow Task Force made a series of recommendations designed to equitably resolve the issue of stormwater flow into the regional sanitary sewer system. The Task Force recommended: • Construction of a new sanitary interceptor by the MWCC - • Separation of Saint Paul's combined East Side sewers • Connection of Saint Paul's sanitary sewers to the new MWCC sanitary interceptor • Return by the MWCC of the former combined flow Belt Line sewer to contributing communities for use as a stormwater interceptor I commend the Metropolitan Council for leadership on the 1984 Task Force and the MWCC for completing construction of the major sanitary interceptor. However, the agreement regarding final ownership, cost sharing and flow apportionment of the old Belt Line sewer was not resolved. Saint Paul in turn has virtually completed separation of all of its sewer system and has connected its sanitary lines to the new interceptor as the Task Force recommended. Responsive Services Page 97 Quality Facilities Employee Pride