12-10-1975 Council Meeting Minutes Special Mtg

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, f a a CITY OF ORONJ, MINNESOTA SPECIAL COUNCIL P�IEETING HELD DECII+�ER 10, 1975 � AZayor Robert L. Searles called to order a Special P�Ieeting ATTENDANCE - 7:35 P.A�. � f the Orono City Council on the above date with the fol- ORUNO CITY HALL �owing members present: Councilmembers Massengale, Butler, • Paurus and Welsh. City Attorney, Bruce Malkerson and � Clerk/Administrator, Walter R. Benson. (Cowlcilmembers Butler and Welsh left early) All members of the Planning Comnission, � Park Commission and I-�.unan Rights Carimission had been notified to attend including persons who were lmown to have an interest r in the proceedings. The official City newspapers were also notified of this 5pecial Council P�beeting. • i Mayor Searles addressed those in attendance rec�uesting their ORONO-LONG LAKE . guidance and co�mnents concerning the Orano-Long Lake Sewer INTERCEFTOR Interceptor proposal of the A4etropolitan Waste Control Com- � mission. He explained that the proposal was for a gravity interceptor draining the Orono and Long Lake Treatment Plar�ts, r going through wetlands or arotmd the perimeter of the w�etlands, into tVayzata. The A4ayor called attention to the report en- � titled "Environmen�al Assess�nt-Orono-Long Lake Interceptor", dated February 1974, by the Natianal Biocentric, Inc. The City came into receipt of this report in November 1975, and � although it's contents would not be part of the evenings dis- cussians, the Cauncil had transmitted to the Metropolitan � ti�laste Control Comanission 115 objection or changes (attached herein) for incorporation into the transcript of the Public 'Tearing held December 4, 1975. The Council explained their �rplexity due to late receipt of the Report and because anly • tonight, at 7:30 P.M. , just prior to the meeting, had the � City received the Final Plans an the project. The project would have many implications, one of which was disrupting � swamps that we have been protecting with Ordinance No. 125. There are alternatives to the present plan, such as a pres- � sure interceptor going alang Fox Street or Orono Orchard Road. The City would have to find it in the public interest • to grant a variance to the Wetlands Ordinance. The Mayor • noted that the Environmental R�port fla�ged the enviranmental hazards of the project and Massengale emphasized that the risks involved are irreversible. The Mayor introduced Gene � Hickok, Hydrologist, of Hickok � Associates who had came to the meet�g in an advisory capacity at the request of the Council. Mr. Hickok agreed with the Cotmcil's statement read at the Ra�1.ic Hearing tha.t stated the basic policy of Orono and lead.er's in protecting ma.rsh areas. He had not yet seen • the Final Plan but had a sketch of the project. To him it � looked like about 3 1/2 miles of pipe either in the flood plain or close to it. 3 1/Z miles is a major concern and � alternate routes were not very detailed. The A�ayor noted within the next cauple weeks 90% of the available Federal � Funds would have to be put together, if the project was to get tuiderway. Hickok felt the Pollution Control Agency �ould possibly lay over fimds for another year. Searles felt iting another year would not be out of line considering the �''�=pes would be in the ground 50 to 100 years. Hickok went on �o describe a portion of the project noting that the chosen � route made provision for ditch dams every 500 feet. One � potential was in the excavation of the line thru r�arsh soil which could open up clay seals of permeable materials. Water