CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Darrell Anderson called the Wastewater Treatment Facility Plan Public Hearing of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council to order on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Debra Kravig, Arnie Carlson, Brian Blesi, and Paul Kuhlmann were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, WWTP Operator Mike Bryant, and the public.

PUBLIC HEARING

Arnie Carlson moved to open the public hearing, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.

Dan Greve, MSA: the Waste Water Treatment Facility project is needed due to problems meeting BOD requirements, new phosphorous discharge limits that our current facility can’t meet, plus expanding capacity to meet future growth up to a population of 3500.

The Original Facility Plan from 2006 looked at alternatives such as joining with another system such as Osceola or Taylors Falls, also looked at other technologies, and other locations, the three alternative sites considered, identified as A, B, and C, were: north east of town off Louisiana St, north of town off Hwy 87, and immediately north of existing site. MSA was contacted in late 2006 to look at reusing the existing site. Preliminary construction costs for alternatives A, B, and C, did not include land acquisition, or engineering cost. The amended plan for reusing the existing site includes an 8% inflation factor for 2010 construction, and also includes improvements to the sludge storage site and sewer main in River St for an estimated cost of $8.1 million; the additional improvements were not included in the earlier alternatives. All the alternatives utilize a batch sequencing system. Using the existing site is more cost effective than alternatives A, B, and C, the draw back of reusing the existing site is that there is no more room for future expansion and growth. If or when growth exceeds capacity would need to look at new technologies, adjacent land acquisition, or construction of a substation plant at a second location. The project would be funded in part by a Federal Appropriation of $4.7 million with the City borrowing the remaining $3.4 million. The City share could be funded by a DNR Clean Water Fund Loan for 20 years, using an estimated interest rate of 2.5% the estimated annual debt payment would be $240,546. It is estimated that the average household sewer bill would increase $101.21 per year.

Pete Prusak, DNR: the City needs to update City Codes for NR113 and then verify that the plant will meet those Codes. The community needs to look forward at what will be needed and done with system in 20 years, there can be no construction beyond the current DNR Easement that the existing plant sits upon, will need to look at new technology or acquiring of private land, additional DNR land is not an option.

Lee Uhrhammer: original plan was adopted unanimously in 2006, two years have been wasted. Decision to stay at current location restricts growth, with 2% levy cap and increased fuel costs, tax payers will be hit hard if there is no growth. Tax payers will be hit hard if a second plant needs to be built.

Roland Hamburg, Army Corp of Engineers: $350,000 in Federal Appropriations was allocated for original Facilities Plan, the Corp is contractually committed to working with Aryes & Assoc who in turn contracted with Donohue & Assoc, the City wants MSA. The Army Corp can’t just adopt amendment, a technical review will have to be conducted by Aryes. The Corp can only work with MSA if Aryes can contract with MSA, and to do so MSA would have to be able to meet certain requirements. There will also need to be a review to determine that the project is build able and can comply with building codes. It has been indicated by MSA that there would be some Code variances.

Brian Blesi moved to close the public hearing, second by Paul Kuhlmann, voice vote, motion passed.

Debra Kravig moved to adjourn, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

6:38 pm.

Darrell Anderson, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk