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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/09/1975 Council Minutes1 1 1 SEPTEMBER 9, 1975 The Special Meeting of the Lino Lakes City Council was called to order at 8:05 P.M. by Mayor Bohjanen on September 9, 1975. Council Members present: Jaworski, McLean, and Zelinka. Council Members absent: Marier. Mr. Locher was unable to attend due to illness. Mr. Gotwald was present. This meeting had been called for the purpose of discussing the proposed alternatives for the solution of the sewer problems of the City of Lino Lakes in the areas of Shenandoah, Country Lakes and the Baldwin Lake Trailer Court. Mr. Jim Barton, representing the Metro Council Staff, and Mr. Ray Payne, re- presenting the Metro Waste Control Staff were also present. Mr. John McLean presented the position of the Lino Lakes City Counoi:I in a prepared statement. A copy of this statement is on file in the Clerk's Office. Mr. George Gotwald, Lino Lakes City Engineer, presented his comments and recommendations. A copy is on file in the Clerk's Office. In answer to these comments, Mr. Barton felt the decision on whether to service a portion of Lino Lakes or the entire City directly relates to the recommendations. The interim system would only deal with the problem areas, whereas, a full flow gravity system would be designed to serve the entire community. Mr. Barton agreed that there are strings attached, but felt this is a two way street. The type of service must be decided before any changes can be made in either the Comprehensive Land Use Plan or the Comprehensive Sewer Plan. Mr. Jaworski asked if all cost factors had been taken into consideration? Mr. Barton felt that the investment in a permanent system, that for the next fifteen years would be under utilized, is not a wise investment for the Metro Council. The interim system is a matter of "buying time." Mr. Zelinka pointed out the increase in cost, if the installation of the permanent system is delayed for a period of 10 to 15 years. In his estimation the cost could triple. Mr. Gotwald had prepared a map with the area affected by the interim line marked. He had checked this area thoroughly. At the present time there are 267 units in that area with a potential of over 700 with the already platted lots available. These figures would point to the obsolescence of the interim system before installation. Mr. Barton felt the key to this problem is the scope of the area to be served. Mr. Barton also offered Mrs. Peterson's apologies for being unable to attend this meeting. She had a prior committment. Mr. Gotwald discussed the cost figures as presented in the draft. He felt these are not realistic figures in that there is no consideration given to Lexington Park - Lakeview areas or to Centerville. 201 8 SEPTEMBER 9, 1975 Mr. Gotwald pointed out that if the Lakeview area is to be served by the interceptor located on North Road this would become a Metro responsibility. That interceptor would have to be extended to a point on Rice Lake and a lift station installed to handle that area. If the gravity system is installed with,ajunction at Highway 49 and Birch Street, this area would then be served by gravity to that line. The matter of the trunk line along Highway 49 then becomes the responsibility of the City. The proposed line to serve Centerville through Hugo will necessitate the instal- lation of about three miles of force main. If Centerville is sewered through a gravity line in Lino Lakes, it would only be necessary to add approximately one mile of line. An underlying factor in all these considerations, should be the need for sewer facilities at the Minnesota Metropolitan Training Center located on Fourth Avenue just North of 1 35 W. Mr. Ray Payne said both recommendations will be presented to the Environ- mental and Transportation Commission meeting. Basically, the Metro Council Staff and the Metro Waste Control Staff could not agree. The alternatives will be presented and the decision as to which will be installed will have to be made by that Commission. Mr. Payne also felt that the alternatives are not presented on an equal basis. The Metro Waste Control Commission will construct either alternative. Mr. Barton was asked if either the Metro Waste Control or the Lino Lakes Engineers had any input into the memorandum and Mr. Barton said, No, this is a Metro Council staff recommendation. Mr. Jaworski asked if the existing lift station on Black Duck Drive would be utilized. He was told it would depend on the size and capacity of that installation. If it is large enough, it will be used. The unit can be modified to serve. Mr. Zelinka asked if the proposed $450,000.00 cost figure included that portion of this system that would have to be replaced and was told that it did not. Mr. Payne said that the availability of materials for the construction of the force main could possibly cut the construction period by about six months. He said it would take about four months to prepare the specifications, two months to get the bids, and about four to six months for the construction. A gravity system would take about six months longer to complete. Mr. Barton was concerned with the interim service to the Shenandoah. He asked Mr. Payne how soon the specifications would be available in order for the mains and laterals to be installed in that area. Mr. Payne said that once the decision as to the type of system that is to be installed, it would be just a short time for those specs to be available. Mr. Jaworski asked that if and when the force main system is at the saturation point, what assurances does this City have that a permanent system will then be installed? Mr. Barton said that the Metro Council would be committed to improve the system. SEPTEMBER 9, 1975 ) 0 Mr. Zelinka asked if we then would have the same problem as now in that the interceptor would be constructed to the boundary of the City and become the City responsibility from that point? Mr. Barton said that was a possibility.. Mr. Jaworski felt that in this discussion the needs of Centerville have been ignored. Is the force main to that community an interim system also? Mr. Payne said the lift stations and force mains for Centerville are in the policy plan. The funds were in the 1974 budget and were not used. Whatever is approved can be funded if is in the Policy Plan. Mr. Barton felt that once there is approval for the installation of a system, then the funding becomes the responsibility of the Metro Council. Mr. McLean asked if the Enviornmental and Transportation Commission will be looking at both alternatives of will they be just presented with the Metro Council Staff recommendation? Mr. Barton said the Metro Council Staff recommendation will be the one that will be presented to that Commission. The Waste Control Staff will be there to make a statement on their recommendations. The City Council may also present their opinions on this recommendation. Mr. Barton felt that it is most important the the Council attend this meeting since the recommendation from this Commission is the one that will be presented to the Metro Council for consideration. Mr. Zelinka felt that the figures given as to the portion of Lino Lakes that is buildable is out of line. He asked Mr. Gotwald what the real physical data as to the water table in this area shows. Mr. Gotwald did not have the figure but felt the ones presented in the memorandum were highly exaggerated. Mr. Zelinka felt that this Council could agree with the Metro Council in more areas if the facts as presented were not so twisted. He felt that maps and data used in this memorandum were outdated and therefore do not present a true picture of the area. Mr. Zelinka suggested that the Metro Council staff do their homework. Mr. McLean felt that the requirement tacked onto the memo are just a re -hash of the demands that were made at the time the Comprehensive Land Use Plan was prepared. These things were discussed and a settling of the differences had taken place at that time. A resident of Shenandoah felt that in the last three months there has been little, if any, progress made in the direction of solving their immediate problem. Mayor Bohjanen felt that this Council cannot look at only one segment of the City, they must consider the entire community. And this is what they have been doing. Mr. McLean said the demands tacked onto this memo are too rigid, the demands are absolute. Mr. McLean asked if the area East of 1 35E that the City has zoned as light industrial, could use the force main proposed to serve Centerville? SEPTEMBER 9, 1975 Mr. Barton thought it would serve a one -half mile corridor along Main Street but Mr. Payne said that it would not serve any portion of Lino Lakes. Mr. Gotwald said the corridor for service to Lino Lakes had been in an early report. Mr. McLean pointed out that in the memorandum it is suggested that the East nine square miles of Lino Lakes be served by this installation. Mr. McLean felt that the decisions of the Metro Council are a moving target and that it is impossible to rely on a decision made by that body since the changes are so rapid. Mayor Bohjanen asked if the City Council would have the opportunity to present their ideas at the meeting with the Enviornmental and Transportation Commission and was told that they would. Mr. Barton asked Mr. Zelinka what portion of Lino Lakes he felt was buildable and Mr. Zelinka said that a conservative estimate on his part would be 45 to 50 %. Mr. Gotwald felt that since Anoka County has removed 2500 acres of land from consideration, that approximately 90% of the remaining land is buildable with utility service. Mr. Gotwald repeated that the true cost of this interim system is not listed. He also felt that the Comprehensive Land Use Plan should not be changed since this is an interim system and should not reflect on the long range plans as so laid out in the Land Use Plan. If done, this would eliminate the basic criteria for sewer service. There was some discussion of the schools in the area, especially Dist. No. 12. Mr. Norman Fritchie, a member of the school board, was in the audience. He said that the Centennial Schools are at about 65% capacity. This would indicate that any major development in the area would have very little impact on that School System. There was information that the White Bear School District also has a declining population. A discussion of the cost figures was introduces with Mr. Barton asking Mr. Gotwald where he felt the cost figures were not fair. Mr. Gotwald said Mr. Burandt used the cost figures for the materials from his office, but these were just for materials and did not take into consideration how or where they were to be used. Mr. Gotwald still felt that the $450,000.00 cost figure is not a true cost figure. Mayor Bohjanen thanked the officials and residents for attending this meeting. He felt that all that could be said and accomplished had been done and that the answer will have to be from the meeting scheduled for September 10, 1975. Mr. Barton felt that it is most important that the Council attend that meeting. All members plan to be there. Mr. Jaworski moved to adjourn at 9:50 P.M. Seconded by Mr. McLean. Aye. These minutes were approved at the October 14, 1975 Council Meeting. ?JaA/1-eA} CLERK - TREASURER