Agenda - Council - 11/26/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I WELL HEAD PROTECTION JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT By: Steven J. Jankowski, City Engineer CASE Background: The Minnesota Department of Health drafted Rule 4722, which will require a well head protection plan for ail public water supply systems. Among other things, the plan will require that the area contributing to the recharge area of each well be defined. Because all public water supplies need to meet this requ'~r:ment and because recharge areas are largely a function of local geography, a number of Anok joint powers ag preparing indivi approach to pre1 agreement to fac be the coordinati t County municipalities have been meeting to discuss the possibility of entering a 'eement to consider hiring a single consultant to model the area geology and lual plans for all member cities. Dakota County recently undertook such an are plans for their member communities. Attached is a draft of a joint powers tlitate a similar process. Anoka County, through its Department of Health, would ag agency. You will note that the joint powers activities are proposed to be divided into two phases. Most significant is th~it the first phase will consist of developing a project work plan, selecting a consultant and d~termining individual member costs. A direct financial commitment would not be required until Ph~e II and the City would have the ability to opt out of the agreement at the end of Phase I. An individual w~ll head protection plan for Ramsey's water utility is estimated cost between $20,000 and $30,000. The joint powers agreement proposes dividing the cost of a joint plan based upon an equal weighting of six factors which include: base amount, population, number of service connections, water appropriation, number of wells, and well risk. Using this formula, Ramsey's share q~f the joint project would be 4.8 percent of the total, assuming all communities participate. The ~dividual percentages would increase if some cities choose not to participate. The total cost of a cc~unty-wide plan is estimated to be between $100,000 and $200,000. A joint powers approach t~o this requirement certainly appears to have the potential to reduce project costs, particularly in thelarea of developing a groundwater model. Recommendation: I I I Staff recommendS.that the City enter into a Joint Powers Agreement and participate at least through Phase I of the project so that the cost of a jointly prepared plan could be compared to one for Ramsey alone. Committee Action: Motion to recom~..end City Council adopt Resolution g96-11-~._ entering into a joint powers agreement with Anoka County to investigate the cost of performing a county-wide well head protection study. ~ I I I I Reviewed by: City Engineer City Adminisn'ator~ City Attorney Finance Officer RB: 11/26/96 It7