Minutes - Council - 04/19/1983 - Utility Information Meeting

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Mr. Raatikka presented a schedule of earliest dates sewer would be available in certain areas of Ramsey and stated that Council has the right to delay that schedule if there is no need or demand in those areas. Regarding financing, Mr. Raatikka sited a sample development project of 20 acres, 60 lots. From assessments received, City would invest balances on hand at all times at 9%. At the end of the first year, the City would have a balance on hand of $11,500, assuming that there is a pre-payment of assessments on 5 of the units. Continuting to invest funds throughout the length of bond period would leave the City a balance of $63,508. 3. Impact of a municipal water system on ground water - Presented by Mr. Tom Renner of E.H. Renner and Sons, Well Drillers: Mr. Renner stated that he is not a voting citizen of Ramsey, that his business is in Ramsey and he lives in Sherburne County. Mr. Renner stated that he sees a possible problem existing in use of large diameter well pumping systems in the City of Ramsey. He stated that it is not an immediate problem, but the potential for problems exists. Ramsey is in an unremediable position as far as ground water is concerned because we do not have the two major acquifers beneath us that other cities to the south of us have. Ramsey has two major bedrock acquifers which are condusive to small amounts of water being pumped (500-600 gallons/minute). At present, the existing wells in Ramsey are mostly residential, and none at this point in time are high capacity and affecting the ground water. Bedrock formations presently are a great asset to Ramsey in that they carry a higher artesian pressure than gravel formations. We know there is contamination from landfills and consequently it is being kept out of our drinking water by this upward push of bedrock acquifers. Even where excellent acquifers are located, contamination has shown up due to landfills and illegal landfilling. St. Louis Park and New Brighton are good criteria for this happening. Mr. Renner stated that he has reviewed the system that the engineering firm laid out and it is as good a system as can be laid out and he contemplates it not taking a lot of water out of any acquifer and there would be no problems at this time, but the City has a capacity for a lot of people and 20 years down the road there could be serious problems where municipal wells could cause ground water contamination to take place. One of Ramsey's proposed wells will interfere with one existing well in Anoka and City Engineer recognizes this and is doing what he can to eliminate any problems occurring but I don't think any of us are sure what will happen if Ramsey grows. As a businessman and property owner, I feel I have not been given as much information as I would like to have with regards to cost to businessman for sewer and water extensions. The business population of Ramsey is concerned with the cost factor in that we do have a relatively smaller type of businesses within the City and they have very little use for sewer and water at this time. Other cities such as Minnetonka and Plymouth allow municipal systems in for certain developments that are wholly owned and operated by a subsidiary of the development. These systems are then turned over to the City when it is economically feasible for the City to maintain them. The present water system has been laid out very thoroughly by engineering and have no objections other than timing and cost. Utility Information Meeting April 19, 1983 Page 4 of 11