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Mounds View City Council February 28, 2000 <br />Regular Meeting Page 14 <br />a good idea, however, at this time, nothing is concrete, and they would be deciding on these <br />issues in the future. He commented he likely received more telephone calls with regard to this <br />issue than any other that has been before the Council, adding that they have had a few fairly <br />contentious issues come forward. He advised that anyone who has a comment may feel free to <br />contact him, and he would also be willing to forward their comments to the Metropolitan Transit <br />Commission. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works Ulrich reported that WCCO television station presented a report the <br />previous Thursday evening pertaining to arsenic levels in drinking water. He indicated they had <br />taken some information from a national watchdog group in Washington D.C., and the <br />information they presented was not current. He explained that in June of 1999, the Minneapolis <br />Tribune published an article outlining the fact that there were several Minnesota and <br />Metropolitan communities whose arsenic levels were exceedingly high, and Mounds View was <br />identified as one of those cities. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works Ulrich stated even though at the time it was reported, and presently, the <br />City does not exceed any of the standards in force, this article did draw attention to the City. He <br />explained that several in house tests were conducted, and the Minnesota Department of Health <br />was involved in the matter, along with the local District Engineers. He explained that after <br />several days, and numerous tests, they isolated the source of the arsenic, which was a test spicket <br />from which the sample was being drawn. He explained that the spicket was reacting with the <br />natural organic ingredients in the water, and contributing to arsenic development. He advised <br />that arsenic is a naturally occurring compound in nature, and this chemical reaction was elevating <br />the test results. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works Ulrich stated they replaced the test spicket, and the test results on that <br />well, which was the only one that was high, has now decreased to less than one part per billion. <br />He advised that the current standard is 50 parts per billion, and the Environmental Protection <br />Agency is considering a range of 10, 5, or 3 parts per billion as a new standard. He advised that <br />all of the City’s wells are currently below that standard. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works Ulrich stated the television station had indicated that they would <br />provide some form of clarification on the 5:00 p.m. News on Friday, however, he had not been <br />able to view that broadcast, and was uncertain if this was done. He stated the City has received <br />numerous telephone calls in this regard. <br /> <br />Council Member Thomason advised that she had seen the news program, during which the <br />television station retracted their statement and reported that it was in error. <br /> <br />No further reports were considered. <br /> <br />7. CONSENT AGENDA <br /> <br /> A. Approve Just and Correct Claims. <br />B. Licenses for Approval. <br />C. Approve Monday March 20, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. Meeting Date for <br />Council/Staff Retreat.