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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004.08.04 CC Minutes - Sewer capacityMINUTES 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 City Council meeting of August 4, 2004 Page 2 indicated that the Ramsey County Parks Commission has turned down their request to locate tanks there. MCES is looking for a willing seller of property. Granger felt that the Ramsey County site should be pursued further. State Rep. Ray Vandeveer asked why the necessary sewer improvements were not going to be in place by 2005, as was committed to during the approval of Forest Lake's Comprehensive Plan. MCES representatives indicated that they hadn't fully understood the full scope of the necessary improvements at that time. Once the full system was analyzed, the Met Council approved the current systems improvement plan and schedule. Council member Puleo expressed reservations about locating the tanks in Hugo. Council member Haas requested a commitment from MCES as to the scope and timing of the project. Council member Petryk requested additional information about flows in the Centerville and Forest Lake lines that would specifically describe why the tanks cannot be built north of the lift station on CSAH 8. Mayor Miron expressed a concern about tax implications. Since the Met Council is tax exempt, any purchase of land by the Met Council will result in the loss of tax revenue to the City of Hugo. The Mayor encouraged MCES to enter into a lease agreement rather than an outright purchase of property, so that taxes will continue to be paid on the property. MCES representatives expressed a willingness to work with the City to ensure that there is no loss of tax revenue. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 Minutes compiled by Bryan Bear.