HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 10-07 Suburbs seek reduction in sewer rate THE REVIEW seek reduction in sew r e-+Suburbsa rate,
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By SUANNE PIEPER THE LAKE OVERFLOW issue also affected communities proportionally through a joint powers agreer
Staff Writer tops the agenda of the Metropolitan share in the cost of treating this overflow, the affected cities.
Council's Physical Development Corn- but"to date no action has been taken on Newcome also pointed
The controversial proposal to have area mittee meeting Oct. 8. that report," Schacht noted. separation of St. Paul's ss
communities help pay for treatment of storm sewers in some area
the water runoff that finds its way into the The pros and cons of the issue were Evans,spokesman for the"sandbagged more costly than continued t
St. Paul combined sanitary and storm discussed Sept.29 in a forum provided by suburbs"said he continues to object to the lake overflow. The estimat
sewer system is once again before the Ramsey County League of Local methodology and the principle behind the separation in the Lake Phaler
metropolitan decision-makers. Governments. cost sharing proposal. is seven to ten million dollar
At press time, Metropolitan Council Panelists were Barry Evans, He pointed out that the suburbs had met He said he hoped the 14
Chairman Charles Weaver had invited theall the requirements placed on them when Council would undo its prey
mayors of the communities affected by Maplewood city manager; Mayor George developing their storm water and and that the communities
Latimer, St. Paul; Tony Gnerre,
the proposal to meet with him Oct. 5. sanitary systems, but are now being work together toward a solu
Metropolitan Waste Control Commission;
Expected to attend were the mayors of required to pay more because "at some The panel presentation was'
Roseville,Falcon Heights,Little Canada and Tom Newcome, area representative point in time St. Paul developed badly." questions and comments;
to the Physical Development Committee. y'
North St. Paul, Oakdale, Maplewood, Dan Schacht, Ramsey County Evans said the suburbs were willing to audience about the issues irk
Vadnais Heights,White Bear Lake and St. Engineering Department, assisted the discuss the problem rationally, but "not the possibility of the citie
Paul. a gun at our heads, together to solve the issue.
The City of St. Paul claims it has been
panel by presenting an overview of the
when we sit here
paying for the treatment of water it says problem. being told that it withs our problem. —
comes from the suburban lakes of Como, Schacht pointed out that the excess
McCarrons, Phalen and Beaver Lake. overflow for 1981 is estimated at MAYOR LATIMER claimed the
The suburbs bordering these lakes 750,000,000 gallons (costing just under suburbs should help out since a large
claim St. Paul has created its own $500,000 for treatment) with the amount amount of the overflow is coming from
problem by plugging natural water expected to increase in 1982 to an outside St. Paul, but because of its
outlets and constructing an inadequate estimated 910,000,000 gallons (costing location, St.Paul is paying for all of the
combined sanitary and storm sewer $600,000 to treat). treatment of this excess.
system. He said a stgdy done by the He said that he was willing to suggest
The sanitary sewer systems in these Metropolitan Waste Control Commission that a multi-party arbitrator decide what
suburbs are connected to the St. Paul indicates that 80 percent of the overflow portion each city should pay if the suburbs
combined system which transports the comes from the four lakes mentioned and St.Paul cannot reach an agreement.
flow to the Pig's Eye treatment plant. earlier. The study recommends that the This form of arbitration could be done
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DISCUSSING LAKE overflow problems at a meeting held city engineer. Representatives from area communities,
Sept. 29 in North St. Paul are, left to right: Robert Orth, county government, the Metropolitan Council and the
chairman of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners; Metropolitan Waste Control Commission debated the pros
John Bannigan, Maplewood city attorney; Ken Haider, and cons of suburbs bearing part of the cost of treating lake
Maplewood director of public works;James Barton(back to overflow and stormwater that gets into the city of St.Paul's
camera), program manager, local planning assistance, combined sanitary and storm sewer system.
Metropolitan Council; and Dan Boxrud,Oakdale consulting
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