01-22-1990 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 22, 1990 • DRILLING REGULATIONS CONTINUED a primary concern of this new policy is the potential for a well to be located in a protected lakeshore or drainfield area. Bernhardson said that he has been working with the City Attorney on this and they have discussed the possibility of issuing a well location permit. He said that such a permit would allow the City to govern the location of a well, while allowing the State to regulate the drilling of wells. Acting Mayor Callahan asked about the extent of the City's procedure prior to this change? Gaffron replied that in general, Orono had more of a program than most local governments within the State. Orono did a location inspection for every well to be drilled, issued a permit, performed a depth check and pumping capacity test. He said that this apparently was more than most cities did. The reason the legislation came about was a Health Department concern that there needed to be one authority having overall jurisdiction of wells drilled in Minnesota. Gaffron said that the Building and Zoning Department feels that, at least for Orono, what the State is proposing will not be as functional as what is currently in place. • Rosemary Scheuer of the "Laker" Newpaper asked how this change would directly impact the individual resident? Gaffron replied that the cost of a permit would be increased. The permit will be called a "Notification" and the property owner and well driller have to sign a form and send $50.00 to the State to obtain one. Gaffron said that with no direct City review of well locations there is a greater possibility that wells may be located where they could render a lot unbuildable from a septic system standpoint. Gaffron explained his recent attempts to use the new State system to verify that proper State notification had been sent for a well being drilled in Orono. He said he was asked if he had the "unique well number ". Gaffron informed them that he had no such number and was then asked for the name of the property owner. Gaffron said that he did not have the property owner's name off hand, and wondered what kind of a system the State had if they could not provide information based on the address or legal description of the location of the well. Counci lmember Nettles asked Gaffron what course of action Orono could have taken had it been determined that the well was drilled without regard for required setbacks? Gaffron said that as long as the violation involves setbacks or other Zoning Ordinance requirements, the City could enforce • that. However, if the City should find a violation involving construction of the well itself, it would be reported to the State. 7