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Orono City Council <br /> Work Session <br /> Monday,July 8, 2019 <br /> Council Chambers 6:00 p.m. <br /> 2. Esinger Flats TIF Discussion <br /> Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart presented the item. Barnhart invited the <br /> Minnesota Pollution Control Agency(MPCA) to a workshop to discuss mitigation options, and <br /> comment on any danger to the public and public waters if leaving the site as is. <br /> Walsh asked what has changed since the time you first discovered the issue with the soils. <br /> MPCA Representative Mark Ostby stated while conducting the investigation methane gas had <br /> been found present in the soil. <br /> Council Member Aaron Printup asked if it was of a great surprise once they started looking into <br /> the soils. <br /> MPCA Representative Amy Hadiaris stated dumps are variable, some will produce methane and <br /> some don't. We really don't know what to expect until we have completed the investigation. <br /> We try to take a conservative approach when it comes to residential homes and facilities and are <br /> very cautious about the methane exposure, however we have a little more flexibility with <br /> industrial or large commercial facility. We have allowed in the past industrial/commercial <br /> development on dumps for those facilities that will have very robust mitigation systems to <br /> control or mitigate the methane, but it is not cheap. <br /> Council Member Matt Johnson asked how alarmed or concerned should the city be with this <br /> site. <br /> Ostby stated that as it sits, it is okay,the problem is when you start putting impervious surfaces <br /> over it is when there is a possibility of potentially causing issues. <br /> City Administrator Dustin Rief asked if there were any concerns of groundwater contamination <br /> at the site and surrounding areas or is it pretty well contained. <br /> Ostby replied that it is not a real concern. <br /> Walsh stated that by looking at the numbers, it appears that Ehlers could have approximately <br /> 5.7 million in equity off the bat that could possibly be used to clean it up. He added that the <br /> Council needs to decide if they feel that it is reasonable to do some type of TIF to support the <br /> cleanup. If not, we can say it's up to the developer. <br /> Barnhart stated if the City Council is interested in proceeding, then Frethum could get the <br /> numbers put together and bring it back to the Council. <br /> Printup does not feel that the City should get involved with the project. It should be something <br /> the developer should handle and decide on. <br /> Crobsy added that it is not posing an immediate danger. <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />