2004.08.04 CC Minutes - Sewer capacity

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MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 4, 2004 PRESENT: Granger, Haas, Petryk, Puleo, Miron CD Director Bryan Bear; PW Director Chris Petree; Senior Engineering Technician Scott Anderson; and Jay Kennedy MCES STAFF PRESENT: Bill Moeller, Adam Gordon, and Donald Bluhm. CDM STAFF PRESENT: Dennis Martenson and Steven Wolsfeld Approximately 25 people were present in the audience MCES staff presented the issues related to inadequate sewer capacity. In April 2001 and June 2003, spills occurred in the area near Bald Eagle Lake. In response to those spills, MCES analyzed flows into the entire sewer system, including the Forest Lake interceptor. MCES is also evaluating deficiencies in the sewer system from Forest Lake to St. Paul. Six major system improvements to upgrade the system have been approved by the Met Council through their Capital Improvement Program, which was adopted in June of 2004. The six improvements will be phased for construction over the next 10 to 15 years. The first phase includes the construction of two, 2 -million gallon tanks, with the possibility to add a third tank, if needed. The tanks are intended to capture flow that enters the system during large rain events, due to sump pumps and other drains that have been connected to the system. The proposed tanks are 140 feet in diameter, 35 feet high, and are constructed of bolted steel. Filters will be installed to eliminate odors, and noise will be minimal. MCES would like to install the tanks as early as possible in 2005 and is working to acquire land for the tanks. Four potential sites were identified at the meeting, all of which are adjacent to the Forest Lake interceptor. The tanks must be constructed south of the lift station on CSAH 8, and north of Bald Eagle Lake. The tanks would be in place until 2010, when the second system improvement is complete in the White Bear Lake and White Bear Township area. The tanks would be removed at that time and the property would become available for development. Several technical questions from various members of the audience were answered by MCES representatives. Councilmember Petryk asked if a better solution would be to eliminate the inflow and infiltration problems present in the system, rather than constructing big tanks in Hugo. MCES representatives indicated that infiltration was not a significant problem in this part of the system. Forest Lake is pursing an aggressive sump -pump disconnect program to reduce the amount of inflow into the system. Forest Lake has removed over 300 sump pumps from the system. MCES still believes the tanks are necessary to capture remaining inflow. Councilmember Granger asked why the tanks are not being located in the undeveloped parkland in Ramsey County adjacent to Hugo City Limits. MCES representatives