08-06-91 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST 6, 1991 PAGE 2 Councilman Williams commented on the recent decision by Washington County to require all residential wells within the well advisory area be sealed to prevent cross -aquifer contamination in spite of numerous homeowners who wanted to use their well for lawn watering. At the same time, this permit modification comes before the City with a number of claims: 1. That the water is just about clean enough to drink so why is there a concern about cross -aquifer contamination. 2. That Peter Sandberg's letter, 7/16/91, states that the MPCA believes that the changes in the permit will facilitate the site cleanup and closure and will be protective of water quality. Williams stated "Not one of us in this room is going to live to see the day when this landfill is cleaned up by air stripping". 3. That as far as he can tell, the amount of pollutants that have been pumped out of the ground so far amounts to approx. 3 barrels worth. We know there are possibly hundreds of barrels of potentially toxic industrial waste in that landfill. As long as the water table stays where it is, as long as the MPCA refuses to clean up the site, this air stripping will continue, NPDES will continue, and we will continue spreading the contaminants both in the air and to other water bodies. Until the PCA comes back and states this is how we are going to clean up the site, and here is how the NPDES is an integral part of that cleanup", I am opposed to any additional pumping on the NPDES. The Council concurred with Councilman William's comments; therefore, the following motion was made: M/S/P Mottaz/Dick Johnson - to direct the City Administrator to send a letter to the MPCA reiterating the comments stated by Councilman Williams. (Motion carried 5-0). 6. PLANNING/LAND USE & ZONING: A. PUBLIC HEARING: Variance from front yard setback Robert Gardner, 2898 Legion Avenue N. Mayor Johnson opened up the public hearing at 8:30 p.m. The public hearing notice was published in the July 17, 1991 St. Croix Valley Press and adjoining property owners were notified. There was no one to speak for or against this request. Robert Gardner is requesting a variance from the front yard setback so he may erect a 24' x 20'6" garage onto the front of his house. There is no garage on the property at this time. However, Mr. Gardner stated he had converted an existing garage into living space. Mayor Johnson closed the public hearing at 8:32 p.m.