HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-2008 CCMCity of Lake Elmo
City Council Meeting Minutes
12 February 2008
Lake Elmo Fire Hall
Mayor Johnston called the meeting to order 8:40 PM.
Consider a request to engage a law firm to represent the city of Lake Elmo along with Woodbury and
Oakdale at the capitol for gaining the PCA bonding bill request for $15 million for remediation of the PFC
contamination in the Washington County Landfill.
Administrator Hoyt reported that the city of Woodbury had contacted the cities of Lake Elmo and Oakdale
to ask if the cities would be interested in contracting with a legal representative to lobby for funds for the
Washington County Landfill remediation at the legislative session, which opened on February 12, 2008.
She reported that Oakdale had agreed to join in sharing the costs with Woodbury.
Mayor Johnston reported that he had attended a legislative hearing on the PCA request for funding in the
bonding bill and determined that the legislative committee did not seem receptive to the request. He
suggested two alternatives to consider: 1) pay a proportion of the cost of fees – about 6% if population of
the four cities (Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove and Lake Elmo); or 2) decline financially supporting
the efforts of Woodbury and Oakdale, but to give city support in any way it could to encourage the funds
for the Washington County Landfill Clean up. Mayor Johnston supported the latter proposal although he
did not support the dig and line as the preferred option and preferred a permanent solution. He also noted
the importance of making a statement immediately given the dynamics of funding discussions at the
legislature.
Councilmember Johnson concurred with supporting the second option, supporting the bonding request
without funds, because she was concerned that the contamination would continue and that other
contaminants could result from delay. She reiterated that she preferred a permanent solution.
Councilmember DeLapp did not support the $15 million funding request by PCA because it was designed
to implement the dig and line option, which he considered a short term option and a very inadequate
solution. He stated that supporting this bonding request in 2008 would inevitably result in implementing
this inadequate solution. He only supported a permanent solution to the Washington County Landfill
contamination which he believed would be the dig and truck option and, joined, by a plasma torch, if
possible. Councilmember DeLapp said he is concerned about contamination but believes that the evidence
suggests waiting five years is not harmful. He did not believe action was necessary at this meeting.
Citizen Jim Blackford, 9765 45th Street North, presented some historic information on the landfill and PCA
plans in the past that were not followed. He described some alternative mechanisms to get a permanent
solution to the landfill site. He also said that he understood the political realities of getting funding for any
solution.
Mayor Johnston moved to approve the support of the $15 million dollars in the Governor’s bonding bill for
the MPCA remediation of contamination at the Washington County Landfill. Councilmember Johnson
seconded the motion. The motion passed with Mayor Johnston and Councilmember Johnson voting in favor
of the motion and Council member DeLapp voting against.
Mayor Johnston adjourned the meeting at 9:20 PM.