Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/26/2024

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LOWER RUM RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION OCTOBER 17, 2024 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Debra Musgrove called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. in the Committee Room of Anoka City Hall. ROLL CALL Voting members present were: Debra Musgrove, Ramsey; Jeff Weaver, Anoka; and Valerie Holthus, Andover. Voting members absent were: None. Also present were: Deputy Treasurer Lori Yager, Ramsey Civil Engineer IV Leonard Linton, Ramsey City Engineer/Public Works Director Bruce Westby, Anoka Engineering Technician Ben Nelson, Heather Lau of Barr Engineering, Andover Interim City Administrator Dave Berkowitz, Becky Wozney of Anoka Conservation District, and Colleen Werdien of Anoka Conservation District. APPROVE AGENDA Motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Holthus, to approve the October 17, 2024 agenda as presented. Vote: 3 ayes, 0 nays. Motion carried. RESIDENT'S FORUM Chris Smothers, 3800 Rum River Drive in Anoka, commented that he is present to observe the meeting. He stated that he has lived on the Rum River for multiple decades and there is a peninsula near his home that used to be an island. He wondered what he could do to receive approval to restore that to an island again and restore the water to his and his neighbors' properties. He stated that the conditions make it more difficult for him and his neighbors to get out on the river. Weaver commented that the City of Anoka shared the concern with sand that filled in places where it had not previously been, and that the sand blocked navigation. He stated that the City spent one year or more obtaining the permits to dredge that navigation channel. He asked if the resident could shovel out the material to restore their navigation. Nelson commented that he would defer that question to the DNR area natural hydrologist. He noted the different entities that are involved in permitting activities of that nature for the river. He noted that the DNR hydrologist would be able to provide the correct information to the resident as to what would be allowed and/or what would require a permit. Smothers commented that the channel they use to access the river is now about one foot wide, where before it was much larger. Wozney stated that she would provide the resident with the correct contact information.