05-27-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 27, 2015 Keis suggested a smaller subcommittee to review this issue and come back with a recommendation. Council Members Montour and Torkelson volunteered to serve on the committee. The City Administrator indicated that he would schedule a meeting and would bring a recommendation back to the Council. SANDPIPER The City Administrator reported that he and the Mayor met with Todd PIPELINE Olson who is representing a company that is promoting the construction of the Sandpiper Project which would is the construction of a 616 mile interstate crude oil pipeline that would bring crude oil from Tioga, North Dakota to Clearbrook, Minnesota and then into the existing Enbridge terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. The Administrator reported that this project is going before the Minnesota Public Utilities (MPUC) Commission and Olson is seeking support by cities for this project. Olson has requested that the Mayor attend the public hearing held by MPUC in support of the project. Olson has indicated that the pipeline project may prevent an increase in train traffic through Little Canada, but will not necessarily reduce the current level of train traffic. Keis indicated that the hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday. Keis stated that the pipeline project will not hurt Little Canada and may help the City. Fischer reported that this topic was discussed at the Ramsey County League of Local Governments (RCLLG) meeting. Keis indicated that Olson quoted safety statistics which indicated that pipelines are a safer means of moving crude oil than trains. McGraw stated that he did not like the idea of pitting one part of the State against another, and stated that this is his only concern with the pipeline project. McGraw asked if they have the permit for this project. The Administrator reported that they are going before the MPCU next week relative to the permit. The Administrator reported that the plan is to begin construction on the pipeline as soon as possible with the hopes that the pipeline will be in service in 2017. Torkelson expressed concern with promoting increased oil usage. Keis stated that he too prefers alternative energy sources, but noted the lengthy timeframes for developing these alternatives. Torkelson felt that the individuals promoting the pipelines were overpromising and felt the development of the Sandpiper pipeline would not result in decreased train activity. Torkelson also felt it was not right to pit MN cities against one another. Fischer agreed, and felt it may be better to stay out of this issue. After additional discussion, the consensus of the Council was that a 13