09-10-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HELD AUGUST 27, 1990 LMCD REPORT CONTINUED Hurr said, "The administrative technician that we have hired will relieve some of the need for the Milfoil consultant for the next year. The Milfoil project is decided year by year. This person would alleviate the need to hire a specific consultant to deal with Milfoil.” Nettles asked whether the LMCD is making any progress in eradicating the Milfoil weed from Lake Minnetonka. Hurr replied, "We are jrst keeping up." Mayor Grabek said, "Norm Paurus was quoted as saying that one-third of the Lake's recreational surface has been affected by Eurasian Milfoil. That is a large area." Mr. Strommen responded. "It all depends on how you look at it. V^e have approximately 5,500 acres of area that is 15' of water depth or less where the weed grows. Roughly 3,500 (60%) of those acres are fairly well infested with Milfoil. Probably one-half of that area is heavily matted to the point where a boat could not go through. That is where v/e are concentrating our harvesting efforts and where our 1,500 acre permit is applied. V7e are not harvesting all of the heavily matted areas (such as Smith's Bay) because the benefit of clearing the v/eed is not equal to the cost. VJe are trying to keep the navigational channels open to the docks that are in an area such as Smith Bay to enable boaters to move in and out. There is still a lot of lake area that can be used and enjoyed." Callahan asked Mr. Strommen how the harvesting machines have been performing. Mr. Strommen replied, "We discovered in the last three weeks that there is a design problem with the hydraulic system. A local hydraulics firm helped us identify the problem and it has been solved. We are still not satisfied with the amount of power we are getting. The machines are running at five miles per hour and we were hoping for seven or eight miles per hour. The machines are new and sophisticated and we have had our share of learning experiences and v;ear and tear. The manufacturer is working with us to solve and improve on the components that are not holding up. We are in the process of completing a warranty resolution that will reimburse us for approximately $10,('00.00 for labor and materials that have been used to keep the machines functioning." Hurr noted that the LMCD intends to continue cutting the weed until the first week in September. Mayor Grabek asked if it was not beneficial September and October. to cut in - 2 -