Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-80 CCMLAKE ELMO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, JULY 8, 1980 Acting Mayor Pott called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. LEGION POND HEARING: City Engineer Bohrer explained the proposed project as outlined in the Preliminary Report from TKDA. Administrator Whittaker entered the following correspondence into the record: letter from West Lakeland opposing any pumping into lake Elmo; letter from Emil Thiel opposing pumping; telephone conversation from Steven Shanley opposing pumping; letter from Mr. Florian Stevens and Mr. Arthur Friendt opposing an assessment to study the feasibility of the project; and, a telephone conversation from Mr. Donald Olson opposing a study assessment. The latter six residents signed the petition asking for relief from flooding conditions around Legion Pond. Permits to initiate any project will be needed from Valley Branch and DNR, also, the proposal must be submitted to the Soil and Water Conservency District. AUDIENCE: J. Renfrow - 2968 Legion Avenue - Is opposed to any pumping before determining that the water table in Legion Pond is not connected to Lake Elmo. He feels the City should be sure the project is going to work before spending $8,000. Engineer Bohrer explained that this is the least costly al- ternative, and the Council considered many alternatives before deciding on pumping. He also received a report on the Bonestroo Eng. concluding that Lake Elmo and Legion Pond are connected. Engineer Bohrer does not think the pond and lake are connected. Mr. Renfrow reitterated this should be determined before any money is expended. J. Eisile - 3141 Klondike - Wants the water quality of the pond determined before it is pumped intoLakeElmo-. E. Goerss - 3250 Kraft Circle - Owns property next to the pond - Does not feel he should be assessed. His parcel has always drained naturally into the pond with no adverse effect. He suggested the homes be purchased and the property condemned, thereby, resolving the problem permanently. D. Durand - 2901 Lake Elmo Avenue - Asked if a water quality test has been done? Ile feels the water going into Lake Elmo should be as good or better than what is presently there. He suggested a study be done to determine the effect the water from the pond will have on the lake regarding weeds, pollution, etc. G. Bias - 2795 Lake Elmo Avenue - Feels the pond water is already contaminated since several septic systems are currently under water. He does not want any more water in Lake Elmo. Engineer Bohrer said he does not feel the lake will rise because of the pumping. D. Kim - 2871 Legion Avenue - Questioned if any historical information is available to use in making a decision. No.written material is available. J. Renfrow - 2968 Legion Avenue - Stated the pond did not start to raise until the lake started to come up. B. Sh>ninger - 2916 Legion Avenue - Feels there is a connection:, - between another water source and the pond. Only in the last 1 1/2 years has the problem become severe. He feels the source is other than run-off, therefore assessing property owners for run-off flooding would be in error. After quoting from the Newsletter Mr.Sh�inger stated the City should not use- .local assessment to determine what the problem is. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JULY 8, 1980 -2- LEGION POND: R. Mordick 16051 Quality Ct. - Has lived in Lake Elmo since 1948. Stated when the lake comes up so does the pond. The pond experiences a delayed reaction to the elevation of Lake Elmo. He does not think pumping will solve the problem. Lake Elmo is the highest it has ever been; water has always been in the pond area. He does not feel he would benefit from pumping, he would rather see the water high. A. Henning - 2921 Legion Avenue - Suggests filling the lots and raising the elevation. Councilman Pott stated the Council did consider filling and dredging. It was determined it would take 1,000 yds. of fill per lot. Dredging could raise the pond if the water table is below the pond. J. Renfrew - asked if the pumping of Lake Jane has an effect on Lake Elmo. None has been noted by Valley Branch. J. Toft - 2764 Legion Avenue - Stated once the level of the pond is controlled the residents on Legion plan to fill their yards, possibly construct a retaining wall and repair their septic systems. They do plan to help themselves once the pond level is reduced. They have tried filling in the past, but it has been washed away. D. Durand - His family has been in Lake Elmo since 1938. The water has never been this high. Since 1975 when the water started coming up he has lost 200 ft. of frontage. E. Goerss - Feels filling in the lots is a bad idea. His property is on the south end of the pond and feels filling will only transfer the water from one property to another. If the residents on Legion Avenue are allowed to fill and flood his property he should have the same right to fill his land, thus displacing the water onto other land. This should be considered. Pott stated that there is no inexpensive way to drain this area by gravity. Property to the north is not large enough to store the 70 acre feet of water. He also explained that the'City's Lake Level Control Policy will allow the City to control the level of Lake Elmo at the outlet. Mayor Armstrong asked for a show of hands from residents that favor test borings. (These borings would be assessed to the benefitted properties.) D. Collyard -- 2814 Legion Avenue - Feels every opinion expressed is right. He feels the City should lend a hand in paying for resolving this problem as he feels they�,are at;;the end of the water pumped from Lake Jane. P.ayor Armstrong cited the City Councils policy for using General Revenue Funds to subsidize individual projects that are not City wide. The Lake Jane pumping was assessed out to the benefitting property owners, as so should this project. COUNT: 16 property owners are in favor of drilling test wells; 4 are against the wells; and, 7 are opposed to both the test wells and the.pumping. West Lakeland Resident - opposes any pumping into Lake Elmo. They have expended $7,OOO,to date,resolving their own water problems and feel any pumping into Lake Elmo would aggravate their problem. Armstrong stated,that should pumping or dredging prove not feasible, the City has the authority to sub,idize a program at a low interest rate,which would allow the home owners to do the necessary improvements (fill or raise the homes). This would be payable twice a year on the home owners tax statement. Mayor Armstrong closed the hearing at 8:45 p.m. LAKE ELMO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, JULY 8, 1980 -3- LEGION POND: Novak moved, seconded by Mottaz, to authorize test wells be put in Legion Pond, conditioned upon approval and permits from DNR and Valley Branch Watershed District. Water quality of the pond to be tested and meet with the approval of DNR. Motion carried 5-0. MAINTENANCE BUILDING: The Council discussed the additional inspection fees, not included in the original TKDA contract. TKDA has agreed to 54 hours of limited inspections, at a cost not to exceed $1500. Morgan reitterated his position that these inspections should be included, feeling many of the situations these additional costs cover are likely to occur. Mottaz feels the City bears some responsibility for not noting this before signing the contract; and, does not feel the project should be abandoned for $1500. Mottaz moved, seconded by Armstrong, to authorize an additional $1500 be paid TKDA for 54 hours of inspection for the Maintenance Building. Motion carried 4-1. Morgan opposed. The Council agreed no more engineering fees will be expended on this project unless specifically contracted. Engineer Bohrer informed the Council that the percentage curves for engineering and/or architectural fees are for design services only, there is no curve for inspections. Mottaz moved, seconded by Armstrong, to award the contract for the Maintenance Building to the low bidder, Steele Construction, for alternates 1, 2, and 4, at a total cost of $169,200. Motion carried 5-0. ICMA NATIONAL CONFERENCE - City Administrator: Morgan moved, seconded by Mottaz, to appropriate $800 for the City Administrator to attend the ICMA National Conference. Motion carried 5-0. LICENSES: Pott moved, seconded by Morgan, to approve the following licenses: General Contractor - Lesters of Minnesota, Lester Prairie, Mn.; Sewer Pumper - Wm. Marty, 12698 12th St. N., Lake Elmo, Mn.; and, Driveway - Blacktop Driveway Co., Inc. 1543 Payne Avenue, St. Paul, Mn. Motion carried 5-0. JULY 14, 1980 CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The Washington County Board will attend the meeting to discuss the Regional Park. The Administrator will invite a representative of the Metropolitan Council to attend. CIMARRON - NPDES PERMITS: Cimarron has applied for a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit for permanent direct discharge into Sunfish Lake and effluent limitation. The effluent limitation request is for five times the normal level allowed in a typical lake or intermittent stream. The Council authorized the Administrator to write the PCA and the Met Council, entering Lake Elmo's protesbto both of these requests. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS - VALLEY BRANCH: Valley Branch has asked what the City's administrative costs will be for handling the payroll for their employee. The Council agreed on 15%, the City's over- head rate. LAKE ELMO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, JULY 8, 1980 -4- LAKE ELMO HARDWOOD AUXILIARY WELL: Councilman Pott feels there is a need for a second tank or well to serve the City. There is a 12" diameter well on Lake Elmo Hardwood property, that the owner is proposing to cap. Pott recommends the City consider working out an arrangement with Mr. Rogers that would enable the City to utilize this well as an auxiliary unit. The Council agreed this idea should be pursued. The Administrator will contact Mr. Rogers. ADJOURNMENT: Mottaz moved, seconded by Morgan, to adjourn at 10 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.