HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 10-09 City, suburbs oppose 50-50 sewer decision Pioneer Press iy9
suburbs
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sewer decision
By Anne Brataas community contributed to the
Staff Writer city sewer. In the past, St. Paul �,
The Metropolitan Council has paid the whole bill, now esti-
Thursday decided St. Paul and mated to be about $1 million a
eight northern suburbs should year'
each pay half of an estimated $1 The suburbs involved are Fal- q
b million St. Paul sewer bill—and con Heights, Little Canada, V
k it may get sued by each party Maplewood, North St. Paul, Oak- N
because of it. dale, Roseville, White Bear
The amendment was intended
Lake,and Vadnais Heights.
to placate both parties and keep
the issue out of court. But nei-
They oppose paying any por- -.;%.tion of the bill to treat the runoff
ther side likes it. because they say it is not their
"There is no evidentiary basis fault St.Paul treats storm runoff
for this decision," Mayor George water — water that is clean un-
til it mixes with the sewage in St.
s Latimer told the council. "The
facts don't warrant a 50 50 split.
Paul's sewer line. Suburban tax-
It seems to me that this action payers shouldn't pay to clean up
St.Paul's problem,they say.
. . may be arbitrary and Capri-
cious. But I have to talk to our Most cities have separated
1 City Council,and legal counsel to sewer lines that route runoff
see if we're going to court. Be- around treatment plants to avoid
sides, the suburbs may beat us paying for treating it. St. Paul
there." just has one line that sends
At issue is a new Metropolitan mixed runoff and sewage to
Council ruling ordering the sub- treatment.
urbs to pay part of the amount "There is no justification for
St. Paul is billed to treat storm the suburbs to accept these
water that overflows Beaver, charges," said John Hannigan,
Phalen, Como and McCarron's the lawyer representing the sub-
lakes through St. Paul sewers urbs. "Their sewage plans all
into Pig's Eye treatment plant. comply with county planning re-
Under the original ruling, quirements. Only one municipal
• which was amended Thursday, body has chosen to put its storm
St. Paul would pay 20 percent of water into treatment by the kind
the treatment bill, and the sub- of sewer system it built — and
urbs would pay threst depend- that's St. Paul. Because there
ing on how much water each See Sewer ruling,Page 4
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