Minutes - Council - 09/15/1980 - Special

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Mayor Gamec called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. He stated the purpose of the meeting was to carry on business in regards to Resolution #80-75 regarding the Anoka Landfill located in the City of Ramsey which city staff sent to various agencies throughout the state. and to get answers to the questions regarding health, welfare and safety of the residents of the Anoka Landfill area. Mr. George Steiner, Director of Health Department for Anoka County, had a statement from Ralph McGinley, Anoka County Commissioner, regarding Resolution #80-75. He summarized Commissioner McGinley's memo. He referenced the August 15, 1980 meeting and addressed some of the concerns and actions taken by the County in that meeting. One of the concerns was whether or not there was a health hazard in the landfill area. From the data they have now, there is no immediate health hazard. Specifically, some of the areas that were looked at were water pollution and methane gas. Water samples were compared with results of other samples in the county and no problems were found in regards to pollution of water. In regards to the methane gas concern, there was a little migration of that gas but the gas did not enter any of the homes surrounding the landfill. The venting system began to remove the gas and there was a definite improvement in the gas monitored. There was not a sufficient quantity of gas found to promote a problem. There was found a .75 to 1% readings in the homes there and there was no differences in readings found at other sites throughout the city. The venting system is sufficient to take the gas off the property and it is working adequately at this time. The wells will continue to be monitored. At this point in time, they were unable to say for sure that the migration of gases from the landfill was the sole cause of the tree losses. There were discharge samples taken and the results were not available at the time of the meeting, but would be by next week. Commissioner Fields said the operation did install 250' of pipe. Mayor Gamec asked how often the county would monitor the methane there. Mr. Steiner said it would be monitored about every ten days. Mr. Bruce Bacon, Ramsey Tree Inspector asked if soil tests were taken on the regular nutrients in the soil. He said he had two samples that were collected late in August but was going to do more tests the next day to be sent to the University of Minnesota. Councilman Cox asked what other causes there were for the tree losses. Mr. Steiner said that methane could be a factor but does not appear to be the only possible cause as beetles were also found in the trees. He stated the monitoring devices would help determine levels of methane~ Fred Soucie, Attorney for the landfill neighbors asked to questions Mr. Steiner regarding some of his comments regarding the problem so as to clarify for the neighbors the inconsistencies he noted. The council determined that Atty. Soucie could make a statement later on in the meeting. C/September 15, 1980 Page 2