HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 03-18 Suburbs taking quick action on sewer rate hike controversy THE REVIEW Suburbs , takin u
action on
„-,
sewer rate hike controversy �,
By MARY LEE HAGERT Metropolitan Council is planning to meter into the St. Paul sewer system. LAST WEEK the city administrators V
the water flow from Beaver, Phalen, According to figures compiled by city and managers agreed the legal and court \
With the threat of dramatic sewer rate Como and McCarrons Lakes.The council officials, Maplewood could anticipate its costs for protesting the higher rates v
increases next year, eight St. Paul will use the meter results to calculate the sewer rates going up approximately should be distributed according to the ,t
suburbs have banded together to fight the rate of storm water runoff from the $593,000 per year. percentage of land each city has involved
anticipated fee hikes. suburbs. North St. Paul, which has less land in the dispute.
City administrators and managers The suburbs are questioning draining into Phalen and Beaver Lake
from the eight northern suburbs, in- Metropolitan Council's authority in this watersheds, could have a one year rate Since Maplewood has 34.9 percent of the
eluding Maplewood,North St. Paul, Oak- Chatter. They are also doubting the ac- hike as high as $141,000. Oakdale an- land involved, it would pay the largest
dale and Little Canada, will gather curacy of the lake outlet metering ticipates its increase could be nearly portion of the legal fees. North St. Paul's
Thursday to discuss hiring an attorney to process. $85,000. These figures are based on a percentage is 8.3 and Oakdale has 5
represent all the communities in a legal The suburbs are not planning to accept Metropolitan Council study of the land percent of the land area.
suit protesting the higher sewer charges. the higher rates quietly. area draining into St. Paul. The Oakdale City Council March 10
They also plan to discuss the Last week, city staff members from directed City Administrator Craig
Metropolitan Council's recent decision to seven of the suburbs met to discuss the All the suburbs have separate sanitary Mattson to proceed with the development
change the sewer fee structure for St. issue. "All the city councils from the and storm sewer systems.In St.Paul,the of a joint powers agreement with other
Paul and the eight suburbs. The council affected suburbs have indicated they two sewer systems are combined.St.Paul affected communities.
directed the St. Paul charges to be want to take whatever legal recourse is contends it is paying for treating the
reduced and the suburbs' sewer rates to possible regarding the rate increases," suburbs' storm water runoff at the Pig's Summarizing the consensus of the
increase. said Barry Evans, Maplewood city Eye waste treatment plant. council, Oakdale Mayor Marvin Merle
This decision was based on St. Paul's manager. Suburban officials say St. Paul is told Mattson that the council was willing
figures,which show the city paid over$1 Also affected are Roseville, Falcon hoping the suburbs will opt to help the to pursue its objection to the sewer rate
million last year for treating clean sur- Heights, White Bear Lake and Vadnais larger city pay for separating its sewers, proposal even if it meant supporting legal
face runoff water from the suburbs. St. Heights. instead of paying the higher sewer rates. action.
Paul is hoping the new billing system will Evans says,"Even if the other suburbs The North St. Paul City Council took
help it recover most of this amount. THE SEWER RATE increases had not agreed to try to stop the rate hike, similar action March 2. The council
probably will have the greatest impact on the projected cost increase for passed a resolution in favor of the
IT IS EXPECTED that the new fee Maplewood,which borders St.Paul on the Maplewood is so bad, I'd have recom- development of a joint powers agreement
schedule will go into effect next year. north and east. This suburb has the mended to the city council that we fight it among affected suburbs and exploring all
Before the rates are raised, the largest percentage of land which drains ourselves." possible legal actions.