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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 03-04 Suburbs explore challenge to sewer rate increase THE REVIEW I, Minnesota ^4"' Single Copy 30` WED.,MARCH 4,'1981 Suburbs e explore challenge g to sewer rate increase By MARY LEE HAGERT "METROPOLITAN COUNCIL'S worlds.They don't want to have to im- St.Paul and its suburbs are at odds... rationale is that storm water from the prove their sewer system and yet they again. suburbs goes into St. Paul's combined want the suburbs to pay for water that has This time the dispute is over sewage! sanitary and storm sewer system and is to go through their existing system. Metropolitan Council members voted 8- treated at Pig's Eye Plant with St.Paul "What Met Council hasn't taken into 7 last week to have the Metropolitan picking up the cost of treatment,"Evans account is what the suburbs paid for their Waste Control Commission change the explained. expensive separate systems." All the sewer fee structure.The council directed "What Met Council refused to take into suburban communities have independent the St.Paul charges to be reduced and the account is St. Paul has blocked the sanitary sewers and storm sewers. suburbs'sewer rates to increase. natural water runoff course with it's What Evans and other city officials This action means persons in combined sewers,so our(the suburbs') believe is that St.Paul is hoping that the Maplewood, North St. Paul, Oakdale, water has no other place to go than into St. suburbs will tire of paying for the in- Little Canada, Roseville, White Bear Paul's sewers,"Evans said. creased sewer bills and will eventually Lake, Vadnais Heights and other nor- "For example,he continued, "out of help the larger city foot the bill for theast suburbs will have higher quarterly Phalen Lake there used to be Phalen seperating its sewer system. sewer bills. Creek.It's not there anymore because St. According to Daniel R.Boxrud, Oak- St.Paul figures it paid over$1 million Paul blocked it off. dale consulting engineer,"on an annual last year for treating clean surface water "The water level in Phalen Lake is kept basis it would be cheaper for the City of from the suburbs.The city is hoping the high for St.Paul's recreational purposes. Oakdale to participate in a permanent new billing,which will take effect next This means storm water that used to seep solution to the problem than to pay for year,will help it recoup a large portion of through the bottom of the lake and into the treating lake overflow water. that amount. creek now goes into the combined However, officials in Oakdale, But the surrounding suburbs do not sewers." Maplewood,Roseville and North St.Paul intend to accept their higher sewer bills Metropolitan Council is planning to have all voiced opposition to the idea of quietly. They are threatening to band meter the water flow from Beaver and helping St.Paul pay for separating its together and refuse to pay the higher fees Phalen Lakes in an attempt to calculate sanitary and storm sewers. or even take legal action to reverse the the rate of storm water runnoff from the THESE COMMUNITIES have joined council's decision. suburbs. other affected cities in exploring legal Although it is not known how much the action that could be taken to reverse rates will increase, Maplewood City EVANS AND CITY officials from other Metropolitan Council's decision. Manager Barry Evans says he would not suburbs including Oakdale and North St. One alternative being discussed is to not be suprised if homeowners'adjusted bills Paul are skeptical about the accuracy of pay the adjusted bills but collect the will be double their present level. the lake metering. higher fees from property owners. In Maplewood,this would mean persons "They(Metropolitan Council)have no At the same time,the cities would file in single family homes and townhouses idea at this point as to what share of that lawsuits protesting the Metropolitan might be paying$37.20 four times a year lake overflow will come from Maplewood Councils decision to raise the suburbs instead of the present$18.60 quarterly fee. or White Bear Lake or North St.Paul or sewer rates.If these suits were denied, Typical single-family homes in North St. Roseville or any of the other cram- then the suburbs would pay their bills Paul pay$21.80 and in Oakdale the charge munities.Some of it will even be coming with the money previously collected.If Mr similar households is $18.80. The from St.Paul,as it borders both Phalen the suburbs won, the property owners sewer rates in these cities also will be and Beaver Lakes,"Evans says. would be reimbursed for the extra adjusted upwards. "They(St.Paul)want the best of all amount they paid.