04-04-89 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 4, 1989 PAGE 4 responsibility for contaminants that are currently in the wells. Attorney Carlson submitted his legal opinion on the Counties' right of eminent domain in his letter to the City Administrator dated March 29, 1989. Carlson noted that the Resolution, as proposed to the City Council, stated that the approval of the agreement does not constitute support of agreement with the Counties method of water treatment or discharge. Carlson felt the City has met its obligations to its citizens by reaching an accord that the County will hold the City of Lake Elmo harmless from any damages or penalties resulting from the Counties construction for operation of the pipeline and discharge of treated waters. Carlson added, he felt the conditions of continued testing and of the continued compliance pursuant to the annual renewability clause, protected the City and its citizens to the greatest extent possible. It was in the City's best interest, Carlson stated, to work with Washington and Ramsey County in reaching an amicable accord as to the installation and operation of the drainage pipe and discharge of the treated waters from the Gradient Control Well No 1. Diane Haider, 8845 2.7th St., thanked Dick Johnson and Councilman Graves for their interest and work on developing an agreement regarding diversion of the water, and they were sympathetic with the Lake Jane people, but they did not agree that the plan provided the citizens with the highest priority. Councilman Williams asked what the definti.on of periodic testing was and requested this be changed to provide for results upon demand. Councilman Hunt considered this proposal to be nothing more than dispersing the pollution into the environment. These chemicals do not decompose by themselves and they enter the food chain. Councilman Williams felt that only physically digging it up and destroying the chemicals will actually clean up the site. M/S/P Graves/Moe - to accept and enter into the agreement presented between Washington County, Ramsey County and the City of Lake Elmo concerning the Drainage Permit for the public right of way for the purpose of discharging water from Washington County Sanitary Landfill No. 1.; Section 4F amended by the wording "results will be received within 3 working days of County receipts of these results:. (Motion carried 3-2: Hunt: The agreement monitors only 14 of the potenti4 100ch rresent. If the Counties really care, they can pursue other options. When the permit is up for renewal in one year, they are open to negotiations. As a long term committment to the City, he cannot support this.; Williams: It would be a good agreement if it were contingent on some plan to remove the source of contamination. The proposed discharge should be allowed only if it is part of careful planned and definite program to actually clean out the contamination of the old landfill. See Appendix A for comments expressed by Councilman Williams).