HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/2008 - re: onsite sewage system December 30, 2007
RECEIVED
City of Orono JAN -
2750 Kelley Parkway 2008
Orono, MN 55356
C1T1'OF ORONO
Regarding onsite sewage treatment system at 270 N. Willow Drive;
Several years ago I called the city of Orono, questioning our non-conformance and asking
for evidence of non-compliance. I never have received a response.
When the system was installed it was set up as a modified mound(the whole front yard
was filled) and a pump was designed for the intermittent flooding of the system.
In all the years of inspection I have never seen any evidence of inspection. (No tanks
opened or evidence of test borings).
In closing, I would like the reason and evidence of non-compliance, also a copy of any
yearly inspection notes. In the future I would like you to arrange entrance to the property
so that I would be there to observe.
Please send evidence to:
Ron Miller
270 N. Willow Drive
Long Lake, MN 55356
Phone: 952-473-1265
Cell: 612-328-0196
January 28, 2008
Ron Miller
270 North Willow Drive
Long Lake, MN 55356
Dear Mr. Miller:
I am writing in response to your letter, dated December 30, 2007. I will try to address
your concerns about your properties non-conformance status and why it was labeled as
such. A soil boring was taken by Stephen Weckman of this Office on May 18, 1998. I
have found the soils work done by Stephen to be very fair and consistent through out the
city. The soil boring indicated that your present system does not meet the required
separation to groundwater or mottled soil. The best way to think of this is, due to
seasonal soil saturation periods, the "modified mound" as you describe the system, does
not receive enough oxygen for the effluent percolating down through the system to
become properly treated before going into the seasonal water table.
The reason that you have never seen evidence of a soil boring is that we try not to leave
any noticeable signs. Due to liability issues and many beautifully landscape lawns that
we encounter, great care is taken to fill the holes back in and the sod replaced. As for not
seeing any evidence of tanks being opened, that was explained in the letter sent to you in
1991 by Stephen Weckman. He explained that the inspection risers were missing and the
tanks could not be inspected. You were requested to install 4" inspection risers on the
tanks. You were also requested to do this in letters dated 1993, 1995 and 1998 also
written by Stephen Weckman. After the soil boring was done in 1998 that found the
drainfield non-conforming, it was no longer relevant whether or not the tanks were
compliant or not.
I am enclosing copies of all the inspections done by the city and a copy of the soil boring
done in 1998 by Stephen Weckman. If you have any questions or concerns regarding
your septic system please feel free to call. I hope this letter has helped to resolve most of
your concerns.
Sincerely,
Willie Gibbs R.S.
SSTS Program Manager
.m
ON.
O
CITY of ORONO
r7 ti Municipal Offices
Yi.
Street Address: Mailing Address:
ljHp� 2750 Kelley Parkway P.O. Box 66
Orono, MN 55356 Crystal Bay, MN 55323-0066
February 14, 2008
Ron Miller
270 North Willow Drive
Long Lake MN 55356
Dear Mr. Miller:
I am writing in response to your fax of February 1, 2008 concerning your existing onsite
system for 270 Willow Drive North. You are requesting additional information about the
city's inspection program and rules and regulations. The only major difference between
the MPCA 7080 rules and the City of Orono's Ordinance is that the City does not allow
what is referred to as"performance" systems. This was a decision made by the City long
before I came to work for Orono. The other minor discrepancy is with septic tank
capacities. The MPCA 7080 rules are minimum standards and the city has always felt
that additional septic tank capacity is cheap insurance against premature disposal field
failure. The City also has some additional rules for Big Island but these do not apply to
the rest of the City.
Your second question deals with the Munsell Color Chart. This is a reference book
developed to help standardize soil colors so that they can be compared from site to site
and state to state. It helps the designer distinguish color changes in the soil due to
redoxomorphic features. This is what is normally called mottling. It shows what the
parent material is in relation to the changes in mineral content in the soil. When the
Munsell scale goes to two or less on either scale(hue or chroma) it indicates a soil that is
problematic for septic systems.
The third question you ask, how was the inspection done/performed? Since all of the soil
borings, tank locations and mapping was done long before my arrival I can only speculate
what was done. In reviewing different files and properties it appears that the first few
years of the inspection program were spent just trying to locate and map systems. The
city did not start doing borings until 1992 and continued until 2000.
If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to call, 952-249-4600.
Telephone(952)249-4600 • Fax(952)249-4616
www.ci.orono.mn.us
Sincerely,
Willie Gibbs R.S.
SSTS Manager