5.a)3) Minutes 03-13-12 - �, �� 3
March 13, 2012
A work session meeting of the City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Simonson called
the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The following were present: Mayor Randall Simonson, Council
members Chris Ness and Jim Schneider. Members absent were Connie Amos and Sally
Swanson. Staff present: City Administrator Anne Hurlburt, Engineers Ryan Goodman and Clint
Jordahl, City Attorney Tom Miller and Treasurer Colleen Firkus.
Approval of the Agenda
Ness, seconded by Schneider, moved to approve the agenda as presented. The motion
carried 5-0.
Spring Newsletter
The draft of the City's Spring Newsletter and Recreation Program Brochure was reviewed and
accepted.
Maintenance Superintendent Position
Administrator Hurlburt updated the Council on the process of hiring a Maintenance
Superintendent. Twenty new applications were received and 25 of the original applicants asked
to be reconsidered for the position. The new applications have been scored and are ready for the
Council to review. It was decided to set a date next week with the full Council to select interview
candidates, with a tentative date set for Tuesday, March 27.
Agricultural Accessorv Structures,Number and Size (Roger Thomasen)
Mr. Thomasen joined the Council discussion asking why Scandia veers so far from State Statute
Sec. 273.13 from defining Ag land as 10 acres or more. As his research indicates, five
surrounding municipalities do not restrict the number and size of Ag buildings on 20 acres or
more. Administrator Hurlburt reminded the Council that the issue is the local zoning that
determines the allowed number and square footage. Attorney Miller pointed out that the state law
referred to is related to taxation, not zoning. Ness indicated he thought a compromise could be
found. Schneider stated he thinks the zoning is too restrictive for AG buildings and would like to
see unlimited AG buildings on 20 acres or greater. Ness thought 30+ acres would be more
appropriate. There is a concern that large buildings will be converted to uses not allowed by the
zoning. Schneider indicated enforcement of building use should be accomplished after the fact.
Simonson, seconded by Ness, moved to request that the Planning Commission consider an
amendment to the zoning code to permit an unlimited size and number of accessory
structures for agricultural purposes on properties of 30 acres or greater. The motion
passed 3-0.
Anderson-Erickson Wastewater System Study
City Engineer Ryan Goodman recapped the March 9, 2012 engineering study on the existing
condition and capacity assessment of the Anderson-Erickson Wastewater System. The system
and capacity has been studied in 1994, 2000 and in 2002. Goodman presented four options:
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March 13, 2012
Scandia City Council
Page 2 of 3
• Do NothinQ-- continue to operate the system as required by the County's permit, replace
the Run-Time Meter (RTM) at the main lift station (<$500), and investigate repair of the
dosing valves;
• Add a Small Mound to Existin�roperty which adds 2,000 to 2,500 gallons per day(gpd)
to design capacity, half of which would be consumed by peak flows. Cost estimate, not
including nitrate reduction, is $102,700;
• Add Pretreatment and Utilize Existing Drainfield which would require the purchase and
installation of equipment to pre-treat about 15,500 gpd, which would accommodate about
45 year-round connections—the potential user capacity of the system. State of
Minnesota would permit the system and have the final say on all design matters.
Equipment and O&M cost vary widely. Drainfield modifications required to distribute
treated effluent under pressure. Estimated total cost $300,000 to $500,000 without
nitrogen reduction. Add approximately $200,000 in additional equipment with nitrogen
reduction.
• Acc�uire Additional Land to Expand or Replace the Svstem to have a system large enough
to accommodate the service area. The State would be unlikely to allow continued use of
existing drainfield without pretreatment. Total system replacement is assumed with a
build out design flow of about 15,500 gpd. Cost of new system with land, about
$500,000, plus about $30,000 to replace/upgrade the monitoring well network. If nitrogen
pretreatment is required by the permitting authority, add about $250,000 in equipment
costs and subtract the monitoring well cost.
Mr. Joseph Christensen, attorney for Jim Continenza, presented a memo to the Council recapping
the engineering report with suggestions for steps the City could take. Mr. Christensen believes
there is error in the stated flow rates due to a broken drain-back value. Wastewater is flowing
back into the tank and pumped out again. Flow rates are based on the run times of the pumps.
Mr. Jordahl agreed that the flow rates on the info provided by Washington County have been
overstated due to this problem and the broken run-time meters. Mr. Jordahl stressed that
accurate data is needed to determine the actual flow rates, especially at the peak times in the
summer. Current flow rates indicate capacity is exceeded significantly in the summer months.
There are also 18 seasonal homes on the system that could potentially become year-round
residences causing an increase in use. Until accurate flow rates can be determined, the engineers
do not recommend any new connections to the system.
Based on published data, the expansion area would likely need a mound system, which is
considerably more expensive due to having to haul in material. If land is acquired and the
system is designed for over 10,000 gpd, it is likely the EPA will require pretreahnent and/or a
new monitoring well to show the impact on groundwater supplies.
Another issue raised is the use of sump pumps putting clean water into the system. Mr. Jordahl
suggested the City start educating residents on the impact of using sump pumps to their sewer
system and, if necessary, create an inspection program to regulate the use of sump pumps on
houses connected to the system.
March 13, 2012
Scandia City Council
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Lastly, Mr. Jordahl suggested the City look at the groundwater quality as the City does not know
if the wastewater is being property treated; disposal of wastewater is one issue, the other is that
the water is actually treated before going into the groundwater. For about $1,000 they can access
the monitoring wells, purge and surge the wells and get a better connection to the aquifer to get a
good sample.
Council member Schneider thinks there is plenty of capacity, especially if sump pumps are
adding to the problem, effluent is being counted twice due to a broken drain back valve, and the
system appears to be working with using only one cell at a time, although designed for two cells
to be used. He also believes there are good soil areas for expansion. Council member Ness would
like the repairs to be made, the two cells used as designed and better data gathered before
allowing a connection to a new, large house. Ness would be open to allowing the Continenza's
mother's existing house connected.
Jordahl cautioned about spending money on fixing the automatic dosing valves as if the City
decided to go with pretreatment, then that equipment would no longer be used. Upgrading the
data collection system would not be money wasted. In either case, the City needs to get an
operator with a service provider license as soon as possible as the County will no longer be able
to operate the system as they are the licensing authority.
Council directed staff to implement the repair of the broken RTM at the lift station and the
automatic dosing valves in the valve box at the treatment site so the system will operate as
designed. Also, to clean out the monitoring wells and take samples of the groundwater. It was
decided to discuss new connections with the full council next week.
Next Work Session
At the next work session options for road repairs will be presented. There will be two consultants
with proposals on a city administrator search and then further discussion on the sewers.
Adiournment
Ness, seconded by Schneider, moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Firkus
Treasurer