03. Minutes of December 9, 2024 Meeting
December 9, 2024
The Wastewater Community meeting was conducted in person at the Scandia Community
Center on the above date. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 by City Administrator
Kyle Morell. Committee members Dan Cartier, Peter Nora, Jim Gribble, Perry Rynders and
Councilmember Jerry Cusick were in attendance. Jeff Dahlberg was absent. City
Administrator Kyle Morell, Public Works Director Charles Fischer and City Treasurer
Colleen Firkus were also present.
BIG MARINE SEWER SYSTEM PRESENTATION
City Administrator Morell opened the meeting and introduced the Wastewater Committee
members. Public Works Director Fischer presented a history of the Bliss and Anderson-
Erickson (A-E) wastewater treatment systems, and explained current operations. Details can
be found in the PowerPoint presentation. Morell led a discussion of the Wastewater
Committee discussions, conclusions and proposals to be made to the Users of the system and
the City Council. The major changes considered were:
Separating the two systems into two budgets as previously had been treated as one
system called the 201 System and more recently the Big Marine Sewer System.
Either returning tank maintenance responsibility over to the homeowners or
continuing City responsibility for tank maintenance.
The goal is to reduce user fees by transferring the cost to each homeowner, allocating
expenses to those homeowners who use the system most.
Concerns over the 11 shared tanks and the affect on the health of the overall system if
tanks are neglected, led to the conclusion that the City should continue maintenance
operations.
Changing billing and due date of quarterly invoices to true quarter.
Consider adding meters to the system.
The proposed changes for 2025 are:
Separate the two systems budgets.
Addition of Service Fees as revenue where residents will be billed for tank
maintenance, pumping and calls for service.
Rates are based on rates charge to the City by contractors.
Cost savings would be anticipated through city negotiated contractor rates.
Rates would be adopted by the City Council annually.
It is anticipated these changes will result in lower user fees.
New User Fees under consideration:
Bliss Anderson-Erickson
2024 User Fee $1,542.63 $1,542.63
2025 User Fee w/Service Fees $1,447.00 $1,297.00
Difference ($95.63 ($245.63)
2025 User Fees w/o Service Fees $1,708.00 $1,653.94
Difference $165.37 $111.30
Wastewater Advisory CommiƩee
December 9, 2023
Page 2
Morell then gave an update on the Bliss Nitrate Treatment Project funding including what is
available through the MPCA’s Point Source Implementation Grant Funding (PSIG) which is
80% Grant and 20% Loan. Funding may also become available in the form of a 100% grant
through the State’s Capital Investment Committee through General Fund. Funding is
dependent on the Legislature passing a Bonding Bill.
Questions and comments were taken from the meeting participants.
Harold Johnson requested a list of all expenses for the past 10 years.
Questions were answered on how the alarms work and when and who to call.
Concern was expressed about VRBO’s and heavy use in a seasonal property. The city
does not regulate short-term rentals, heavy use would trigger more pumping which
would be billed to the property owner, and not all residential non-homesteads qualify
for a seasonal classification and thereby the reduced rate.
Homeowners would like to know if their tanks are original or have been replaced
since 1988.
Participants questioned why would seasonal properties only pay half the rate of full-
time residents as that seems too much of a break. Morell said they will bring it back to
the committee and arrange a second Sewer User meeting to present any changes
based on expressed concerns.
City staff will provide a list to Bliss users to contact their Senators and State Capital
Investment Committee members with Bill Numbers to lobby for funding.
Morell explained use of ARPA funds was redirected by the Council to purchase a fire
truck thereby reducing city debt, and future levy requirements, significantly. When
state funding fell through by not passing the bonding bill, the city was unable to bid
the project and get contracts signed to satisfy the ARPA requirements of obligated
spending by end of 2024. Money would have to be returned if not spent.
Residents also asked how they can locate their pumps; what would be cost savings if
no pumping or maintenance is required; will they be notified when pumping is
required; can users be sent sludge test results annually and/or get a projection as to
when pumping would be required; how will properties be treated where there is no
house, but a connection, like the Waterman property that burned down; residents
would like to know condition of tanks and lines (forced lateral pipes are 1.5” to 2”
and hard to camera those lines. The city would have to shut down A-E totally, and
large sections of Bliss.) Fischer indicated there are no issues with pipes at this time.
Residents would like to know plans for the future if the system is reaching end of life.
Fischer said systems are given a 30-year life span if operating at full capacity. The
systems are running at half their capacity, except at spring run-off, and uses rotating
sand filters and beds, which extend system life. Drainfields, and what gets pumped
into them, are the bigger concern.
Meeting ended at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Firkus, City Treasurer