Laserfiche WebLink
are documented to cause kidney, liver and cancer problems. Young children in particular are at great <br />risk as they crawl around on the carpet and furniture. They ha\ e frequent hand to mouth or eye <br />contact leading to direct ingestion of the chemicals and direct absorption through the skin. <br />Because the complications of dealing with this issue exceed the knowledge and scope of law <br />enforcement officers duties and training we need to have the site evaluated by knowledgeable <br />professionals and cleaned to MDII standards by licensed HazMat contractors to ensure the safety of <br />future residents occupying that property. Neighbors in the surrourding area (ground water and well <br />contamination potential) need to know that they are safe. .-\n\ innocent person continuing to reside <br />at the site needs to be protected. Particularly young children. <br />There are immediate concerns about cleaning up and securing the clandestine lab sites. We can not <br />be sure that property owners will comply if located or they may not be able to be found in a timely <br />fashion. It is important that the City have a means and clear au'iiority to take action should the <br />property owner fail to respond or can't be located. <br />The City also needs the means to recoup any cost ( proposed a’ratement ordinance) incurred in <br />dealing with a clandestine lab clean up and securing of the property. Extreme cases can involve total <br />removal of a home, extensive excavation of contaminate ground and replacement of sewer piping <br />or septic systems. While the proposed ordinance requires the property owner to pay for the related <br />costs, if the owner doesn't or can't the City needs to be able to provide for the clean up and then <br />assess the cost back to the property, through the properly tax syster:. By ha\ ing this system in place, <br />contractors are much more willing to commit to coming in for testing and cleaning if needed, <br />knowing they will be paid rather than gambling that the property owner can and will pay. <br />Property owners finding out that they will be financially responsible for the total cost ofelean up also <br />has u deterrent elTect. Knowing that you will be responsible for tho-s.mds of dollars in clean up cost <br />will make owners more careful about what happens on their w^pe. <br />More cities and counties are adopting ordinances in compliance with .MDH recommended <br />guidelines. The attached ordinances follow ones adopted by the City of Minnetonka. Other <br />jurisdictions such as Olmstead County, the Cities of Anoka. Oakdale and Minnetonka are examples <br />of other Jurisdictions that have adopted similar ordinances. 1 iennepin County is planning on doing <br />something similar but has no immediate plan to proceed. <br />COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED; <br />It is requested that the Council pass a motion to adopt the. “Abatement Procedure" ordinance. <br />It is then requested that the Council pass a motion to adopt the, “Clandestine Drug I.ab" ordinance. <br />(Please note: the “Abatement Procedure" should be adopted firs: as the "Clandestine Drug Lab' <br />refers to the “Abatement Procedure") <br />H <br />Vi <br />! <br />i'l <br />Hill <br />d