Agenda - Council - 05/24/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 May 3, 1988 The comment that the use of high capacity wells installed by the city will lower watertables or draw contaminates into the ground water is not applicable to this area. That statement was made to caution the city from installing high capacity wells (1,000 to 2,000 gallons per minute) in the vicinity of the landfill. Currently, the city wells are low capacity (500 gallons per minute) and are located approximately two miles from the landfill. At the time of the installation of the wells, a study was made to determine the radius of influence of the wells. That study concluded that the radius of influence 'of the proposed well was 1,230 feet. In addition, the city wells are located in the Ironton and Galesville Sandstone approximately 300 feet below the ground surface and are separated from the surficial ground water by several confinin~ layers. Therefore, based on the radius of influence and the exissing confining layers, it was concluded that contamination of the City wells from the landfill was very remote. A greater concern as expressed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Metropolitan Council is the development of high to moderate density residential subdivisions (less than one unit per 10 acres). With the influx of private wells in the higher ground water bearing formations, the potential of drawing contaminates into the ~round water is increased. Without municipal sanitary sewer and water, these developments rely cn Ch-site wastewater disposal systems which provide a source for ground water pollution. In review of the use of sanitary sewer capacity by outlot A, Rum Acres Estates, service to the area will not prohibit the development of other areas in the city with sewer and water. It kas be~n the City's policy to allow development of subdivisions with sewer and water provided they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plans and the developers are willing to pay for the e×t~nsions of the utilities through undeveloped areas. In the future, if other areas are outside of the Urban Service Area and are ready to develop, areas within the Urban Service Area that are not being developed can be traded for those areas. This practice has been used in many cities inc!u~ing the City of Ramsey. The Metropolitan Council also encourages the development of the Urban Service Area by the city of Ramsey. This development will help the ~.W.C.C. pay for facilities that have Deen previously built. The Metropolitan Council has also stated that they would be more receptive to expanding the city's Urban Service Area if they control the growth of the Rural Se-~'ice Area by limiting development to one lot per !0 acres.