HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1321 y
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� Cit� o� ORONO
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
� No. /32!
� _ � � A RESOLUTION OPPOSING LOCATION OF A POTENTIAL
SOLID WASTE SANITARY LANDFILL IN THE CITY OF
MINNETRISTA
WHEREAS, the City of Orono and its citizens are totally concerned
with preservation and protection of the water quality of Lake Minnetonka; and
WHEREAS, a Hennepin County Citizens Advisory Committee has identified
and ranked ten potential solid waste sanitary landfill sites in the County,,
one of which is located near the intersection of County Roads 92 & 110 in the
City of Minnetrista; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of Minnetrista strongly opposes the
selection and development of this potential landfill site within their
City; and
WHEREAS, Citizens and Councilmembers of the City of Orono are also
concerned that the selection and development of the Minnetrista landfill site
would be adverse to the entire Lake Minnetonka Watershed and to all the
citizens residing therein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
� Orono hereby proclaims its opposition to the location and use of a solid waste
sanitary landfill anywhere within the Lake Minnetonka Watershed, and in
particular, its c:r�position to the specific site selected in the City of
Pdinne�rista for the following reasons; .
1 . The Minnetrista site is located within the drainage basin
and watershed of Lake Minnetonka. Runoff from the site •
flows into Six Mile Creek and then into already overburdened
Halsteads Bay of Lake Minnetonka.
Orono is concerned with the water quality of this runoff.
Orono is concerned that any leaching will adversely affect
the water quality, general ecology and recreational usability
of Halsteads Bay and consequently, all of Lake Minnetonka.
2. The Minnetrista Site includes a large designated wetlands
adjacent to Whaletail Lake. Development of this site for
landfill purposes would obliterate this valuable wildlife
habitat and natural filtration system for surface water
runoff . Wildlife would be lost. Surface water runoff
, quality would deteriorate. There would no longer be the
natural storm water ponding capacity necessary to prevent
downstream floodin� Use of additional downstream marshes
for ponding or filitration areas would likely overburden
� their nutrient ass`imilative capacity. The net result again
would be an adverse affect on the water quality of. Whaletail
Lake and of Halsteads Bay and of Lake Minnetonka.
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l C�t� o� ORONO
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
� No. /32/
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3. The Minnetrista site is located in an area known for high
ground water levels. The possiblity of ground water conta-
mination is great. This too would adversely affect the entire
Lake Minnetonka area.
4 . The Minnetrista site is located in an area zoned for agricultural
preservation. The site is currently activel�� used for commercial
agricultural purposes. Preservation ofthis agricultural land is
� a principal goal of the Metropolitan Council and of th� City of
Minnetrista. It is absolutely adverse to the interests of the
citizens of Minnesota to encourage or participate in the loss
of this finite resource. Once used for landfill purposes , this
valuable land could never be returned to productive agricultural
purnoses .
5 . The Minnetrista site has poor transportation access. The heavy
volume of refuse trucks would have to travel many mileG from
their urban collection points to reach this remote .corner of the
• county. A11 traffic would have to slowly grind up the steep hill
on County Road 92 right through the heart of St. Bonifacius '
downtown area, adversely affecting business levels and pedestrian
safety. Alternately, the heavy trucks would have to run along
and through the very heart of residential Lake Minnetonka on
curvy, slow-speed County Road 15. This route would terribly
overburden a road better suited for local residential and
recreational access. This route would directly and adversely
affect most of the citizens of Wayzata, Orono, Minnetonka Beach,
Spring Park, Mound and Minnetrista.
6 . The City of Orono complements the Hennepin County Board of
Commissioners on their approach to the necessary task of
solid waste sanitary landfill site selection. The City of
Orono understands the very real need for such facilities and
the very difficult job of actually locating potential sites .
Orono representatives have participated in the site selection
committee and in the alternative waste resource recovery
committee. Orono does not want this opposition to the Minnetrista
site to be construed as opposition to the site selection process ,
nor as uninformed opposition to having it located "next door. "
Rather, Orono seriously questions that the Minnetrista site, or
any site in the Lake Minnetonka watershed, can meet the necessary
and very critical environmental protection criteria. Orono is
committed to protection of Lake Minnetonka from any threat. Our
• citizens view location of any solid waste landfill within the
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� C�t� of ORONO
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
� NO. /32/
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Lake Minnetonka watershed as a distinct threat to continued
environmental health of this, the Metropolitan area' s greatest
natural and recreational asset.
Orono will continue to oppose any effort to locate a landfill
anywhere -�ithin the Lake Minnetonka watershed. We encourage
instead ��ocation of landfill sites closer to the urban core
of the Metropolitan area. And especially, Orono encourages
increased efforts by City, County, and State government toward
� reduction of the volume of solid waste through better packaging,
deposit and recycling programs , and through continued progress
in energy-recovery systems.
Adopted this �� day of s� fe� 1981 , by the Orono City
Council at a regular council meet 'ng. .
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• Alberta M. Strom, City Clerk
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. William B. VanNest, Mayor
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