Minutes of Regular Meeting
# 769 Held in the
Lake Elmo City Council Chambers
Thursday, March 22, 2007
MANAGERS PRESENT: Lincoln Fetcher, President; Dave Bucheck, Vice President; Don Scheel, Secretary, and Dale Borash, Treasurer
MANAGERS ABSENT: Duane Johnson, Manager
STAFF PRESENT: John Hanson, Barr Engineering; Barb Wolle, Attorney; and Karen Schultz, Recording Secretary
STAFF ABSENT: Ray Roemmich, Inspector
OTHERS PRESENT: Pete Young, Washington Conservation District; Bill Griggs, Long Lake Resident; John and Lenida Sandahl, and Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Johnson, Sunnybrook Lake Residents
CALL TO ORDER President Fetcher called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES After discussion of the minutes of the February 22, 2007 meeting, motion was made by Bucheck and seconded by Fetcher to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously.
ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS Added to the agenda under Managers: Meeting with City of North St. Paul; Under Engineer: Long Lake Outlet Cleaning.
PUBLIC FORUM There was no discussion in the Public Forum segment of the meeting.
SECRETARY
=S REPORT In Secretary Scheel=s absence, Engineer Hanson had picked up the mail and distributed it.INSPECTOR
=S REPORT Inspector Roemmich was not present. No report was given.ATTORNEY
=S REPORT Attorney Wolle asked for the Secretary=s and President=s signatures on the legal papers to file the VBWD Rules in Ramsey and Washington Counties. Attorney Wolle also needed signatures on papers to release liens on property in Projects 1005 and 1007. President Fetcher and Secretary Scheel signed all the necessary papers.WASHINGTON CONSERVATION DISTRICT Pete Young was present, representing the Washington Conservation District. On behalf of the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization, he asked the managers for their support in the challenge grant application for stabilizing a gully erosion site that includes drainage off some land legally within the VBWD, but mostly within the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization. After discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Borash that the VBWD supports the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization
=s effort to obtain a challenge grant for stabilizing the gully within the Cities of Afton and Lakeland. Motion carried unanimously.CHANGE IN ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS At this time President Fetcher authorized a change in the order of agenda items.
ENGINEER
=S REPORT Sunnybrook Lake At the last meeting, the managers directed Engineer Hanson to have some water samples analyzed to see what is causing the discoloration of water flowing into Sunnybrook Lake. Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers a memorandum regarding the results of the sampling. The results suggest that the golden-brown color of the water flowing into Sunnybrook Lake is a combination of iron precipitate and periphytic diatom algae. The water is seeping into drain tile at the newly constructed DNR Gateway Trail and is making its way into Sunnybrook Lake. In the memorandum, Engineer Hanson suggested that the managers meet with the DNR to discuss the issue, identify options for eliminating the discharge, and evaluate the feasibility of these options. President Fetcher directed Engineer Hanson to arrange a meeting with the MnDNR personnel, and to communicate with the managers about the meeting date and time. Some of the managers may be able to attend the meeting.Long Lake Bill Griggs, Long Lake Resident, and Pete Young, Washington Conservation District, were present to request cost share assistance from VBWD in the amount of $2,400 for a proposed shoreline restoration project on Bill Griggs
= property on Long Lake. After discussion, motion was made by Scheel and seconded by Borash to support the $2,400 cost share assistance for the shoreline restoration project. Motion carried unanimously.Permit Request: McFadden Wetland Excavation, Grant Engineer Hanson presented information on a project located at 6329 Jamaca Avenue North, Grant, Minnesota, in the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 Section 34, Township 30 North, Range 21 West. The purpose of the project is to partially excavate a wetland for aesthetics.
After discussion of the floodplain management, wetland management and buffers, and the stormwater management concerns, motion was made by Borash and seconded by Fetcher to approve Permit # 2007-06 with the engineer
=s suggested wetland-related site-specific conditions, and the standard conditions. Motion carried unanimously.Permit Request: Lake Elmo East Sanitary Sewer Connection, Woodbury & Lake Elmo Engineer Hanson presented information on a project located on the east side of Cottage Grove Drive/Lake Elmo Avenue near the Interstate Highway I-94 overpass, in northeastern Woodbury and under I-94 into Lake Elmo in part of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, Township 28 North, Range 21 West; and part of the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 36, Township 29 North, Range 21 West. The purpose of the project is to provide sanitary sewer service to the northeastern portion of Woodbury and the southern portion of Lake Elmo. The project involves some wetland impacts and mitigation through the purchase of wetland credits.After discussion of the floodplain management, wetland management and buffers, and the stormwater management concerns, motion was made by Scheel and seconded by Borash to approve Permit # 2007-07 with the engineer
=s suggested technical evaluation panel conditions, the suggested site-specific conditions, and the standard conditions. Motion carried, with Vice President Bucheck abstaining.Baytown Township Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site At the last meeting, the managers directed Engineer Hanson to prepare comments for the managers
= review at the next meeting. Engineer Hanson had mailed a draft letter of comments for the managers= review. At this meeting the managers discussed the letter and approved it with some changes, and directed Engineer Hanson to mail the letter.Washington County 2007 Groundwater Work Plan Engineer Hanson had been directed by the managers to review the 2007 Work Plan of the Washington County Groundwater Plan. Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers a list of implementation activities in which the VBWD is listed as a leader or team member. After the managers reviewed the list, President Fetcher instructed the managers to review the list and be prepared to discuss their positions at the next meeting.
Brown
=s Creek Watershed District Rules The managers had directed Engineer Hanson to review the Brown=s Creek Watershed District=s proposed Rules, and to prepare a comment letter regarding the Rules. At this meeting, after reviewing the letter, motion was made by Borash and seconded by Fetcher to approve the draft letter, and to direct Engineer Hanson to mail the letter. Motion carried unanimously.Lake Water Quality Studies Engineer Hanson had been directed by the managers to study the water quality of lakes that are anticipated to eventually be listed as nutrient-impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. After reviewing the cost estimate for this study, including additional monitoring tasks, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Bucheck to authorize Barr Engineering Company to proceed with the nutrient studies in Sunfish, Acorn, (Mud), Long, Eagle Point, and Horseshoe Lakes. Motion carried unanimously.
Silver Lake Association to Manage Aquatic Plants in Silver Lake Engineer Hanson reported to the managers that Wendy Crowell, of the DNR, has contacted Barr Engineering Company, indicating that the Silver Lake Association has received a Grant to conduct treatments to manage aquatic plants in Silver Lake. President Fetcher also reported on recent communications he has had with the Silver Lake Association and the MnDNR. The managers agreed to not commit to financing any portion of treating or surveying the aquatic plants at this time.
I-94 Rest Area Demonstration Site Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers information on constructing a demonstration site at the I-94 Rest Area.
Challenge Grants As directed by President Fetcher, Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers a list of ideas for challenge grant applications. Engineer Hanson also distributed a list of ideas developed by the Washington County Water Consortium. Engineer Hanson said that Ms. Amanda Goebel, Washington County, would like the managers to select their top three choices for Water Consortium grant applications before March 28th. President Fetcher directed the managers to review the Water Consortium list and send their comments to Ms. Goebel. Of the items on Engineer Hanson
=s list, the managers agreed that Raleigh Creek stabilization project(s) and a demonstration site at the Oakdale Nature Center should be submitted as grant applications. The managers directed Engineer Hanson to prepare the grant applications, which are due April 13th.Minnesota
=s List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species Engineer Hanson had mailed to the managers an informational memorandum regarding Minnesota=s List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species for their information and files. One caddiesfly species found in Valley Creek is proposed to be added to the list and another caddiesfly species found in Valley Creek is proposed to have a different designation. Having the species on the list could mean further limitations on when projects could be constructed and could require additional coordination with the MnDNR.Project 1007 Maintenance Engineer Hanson updated the managers on the Project 1007 maintenance. He said he talked to the contractor about the Long Lake outlet area. After discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Borash to approve the verbal authorization of the expenditure of an additional $6,000 to clean out the sediment upstream of the Long Lake outlet area. Motion carried unanimously.
The managers directed Engineer Hanson to ask Contractor Buelow and the developers of the proposed Holiday Station store about removing the 5th Street North embankment within the West Lakeland Storage Site.
MANAGERS
= REPORT Next Meeting - April 12, 2007 The managers expect to have a quorum present at the next meeting on April 12, 2007.2006 Annual Report Second Draft Recording Secretary, Karen Schultz had distributed copies of the second draft of the 2006 Annual Report for the managers to review. The managers said they will inform her of any changes as soon as possible, so that it can be finished and taken to the printer.
Meeting With City of North St. Paul President Fetcher reported that he and Cliff Aichinger, Administrator for the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD), had met with officials of the City of North St. Paul. He said the City would like to deal with only one watershed district, instead of two - the VBWD, and the RWMWD. President Fetcher said he and Cliff Aichinger explained to the city officials the process for making the changes and the issues associated with it.
OLD BUSINESS
BMP Cost Share Program There was nothing new to report on this issue.TREASURER
=S REPORT Treasurer Borash distributed copies of the Administrative and Program Budgets for Fiscal Year 2007 dated 2/28/2007, and the Treasurer=s Report dated March 22, 2007. After discussion, motion was made by Fetcher and seconded by Borash to approve the Treasurer=s Report. Motion carried unanimously.ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Bucheck and seconded by Fetcher at 9:45 p.m. to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Don Scheel, Secretary
Don Scheel, Secretary
Minutes Approved by Managers 04/12/07