Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/08/2000

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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency May 25, 2000 Mr. James Norman City Administrator City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Northwest Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 RE: Trespassing on North Side of the Anoka Landfill - City Bike Trail The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) st~f notified you that we are having problems with trespassing at the Anoka Landfill (Landfill) during the summer of 1999. Most of the trespassing appears to be on the north side in the bike trail area and in the area of the ball fields. This letter will address what the MPCA staff is proposing to do at the Landfill. According to last year's daily log/records, which our contractor (Willow Brook Engineering) provides, the fence in the area of the bike trail was cut eight times. The vandalism has continued into this year also. This is costing the State unnecessary money. However, what we are more concerned about is the vandalism that sometimes occurs to the remediation structures on-site. ~' This is a public safety issue not only for the public that lives around the Landfill but also for their trespassers. When vandals break into vaults, turn off valves, etc. sometimes the gas system is shutdown. The present gas system cannot be turned on remotely. This is a future upgrade for the gas system. MpCA's public information office provided a news release last year and I understand the city of Ramsey also did a new release. This has not stopped our problem. Unfortunately, trespassing is a difficult issue at several of our Metro landfills. However, we have to do what we can to deter those interested in trespassing. Therefore, MPCA staff is proposing that we remove the trees located, within the fence, from the north side of the landfill. We are proposing to do this work in the fall of 2000. We are available to meet and discuss our trespassing issues and any comments and/or help the city can provide. 520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155-4194; (651) 296-6300 (Voice); (651) 292-5332 (TTY) St. Paul · Brainerd · Detroit Lakes · Duluth · Mankato · Marshall · Rochester - Willmar; www.pca.state.mn.us Equal Opportunity Employer · Printed on recycled paper containing at least 20% fibers from paper recycled by consumers.