Mayor Ulbricht called the Work Session Meeting to order on 5:12 PM.
Mayor Ulbricht went over what a working session is and stated this is informational only.
Listening session only. Council members can chime in and give feedback.
During this meeting a variety of things were discussed: Mark and Kris (Bollig) – One of the things the city has us look at is the sanitary system. Runs out in the street and piping. Grant funding is a big deal, one of the ways you get those are by demonstrating you have a health concern or systems that are failing. “Many failing systems.”
Non-confirming, some lots do not have room for a new system. People on the lake. Less room for building. Wanting to build a shed, this would eliminate that need. There is a desire to have septics. A lot of this info was a recap from previous meetings. Homes are not being fixed up, having a new septic could be more than the cost of the home. Non-confirming septics, there will be no fines in the mail or letter. We need to start looking at these things so there is not a bigger problem down the road. Does not want to create fear. Our report needs to have some strong language. We may have to do some septic inspections.
When we talk about funding. Permimiary Funding Analysis. Meeting household income. We are eligible for certain funding programs. RD we are eligible. We are not eligible for small cities. If we went to some of these other programs. If we do not qualify for small cities, we do an income survey, but they are expenses.
We are eligible for a wide variety of funding. Under those programs there are subs.
Agency always has us look at surrounding areas. If there is any desire for any of them to have systems, it is nice to reach out to them to cost share. The more users we put on the system the lower the costs. City of Burtrum to bring in another user. Swanville would be a good one to take the waste or some improvements with a joint system. Swanville or Grey Eagle. Upsala may be too far. We would look at the Lake Association. Ponds are expensive, a lot of dirt work. But easy to maintain. We will write it as a stand alone and stand alone with additional users. Maybe the waste can go to the surrounding areas. We could use their ponds and pay the billing to them.
Bollig works for us. Always going to look out for Burtrum first.
Looking for feedback on Regionalization: Anyone know of any history? Any Input?
Mayor stated it is being smart who we can partner with.
Water System Past Experience.: It was cheaper to buy water than to put it in. Main goal is to protect the city.
User Agreements: Lengthy and put in place to protect the city moving forward. So no one can back out of or change agreements.
Over the next few months we will be reaching out to the surrounding communities and lake association. We will bring the PR back for the city to review. It does not need to be approved that night. It is a discussion. Looking at the numbers to make this affordable.
Water Discussion: Funding climate for water right now is not very good. We are not finding any cases of bad water. Have not talked to the funding agency yet. No triggers besides the want.
If you bring the water system into this project, it could halt the sewer system. Failing systems are not raising nitrate levels yet. It is the growth of the city. We are shrinking.
Bollig’s recommendation is to take the water out. It will make the septic project move quicker. No one knows the future. Climate is just not there. Add 5-10 years in wait time if we were to add water. Water will not help the cause right now.
Idea is to put in a gravity systems. Question is where are the ponds going to go? Some people want to sell land, some don’t. There are criteria that need to be met with the ponds. There will never be a final design, things change over. It is not required to be final, because it is a large cost.
Alternative: Pond systems, include lakes, other towns, A picture was shown of the waste water ponds. Ponds require a licensed operator. Recommendation: Put it in the right way. It works for 80-100 years. May have to build restructure in 50 years. Swanville runs a mechanical plant. Try to do a joint user agreement. We do not want to trap into a huge expense down the road.
Bollig gave examples of where ponds can and can’t go. Has to be a 1/2 mile away from town. It has to be a quarter mile away from any rural residences. Some live in or a second home. And ½ mile from wetlands. There are ample potential locations the pond can go. It does not pay to look into exact parcels right now. If it was Burtrum only. It would need to be 5 acres not more than 10 acres. Added additional users would not be more than 15 acre parcel.
Stage we are at now is looking at additional users, that way we know either yes or no.
Investigative Efforts needed: Likes to see at least 10% of septics inspected. This is not about trying to make the septics bad, and identity if good or bad. This helps make the case with the grants.
Inspections: It does not trigger any conditions. It is the outstanding ones that need to be looked at. Can label at home #1, does not have to put a name on it or address at this time. But when it comes to funding, we may need to know the name and address. Goal is 10% total residents in the community. Failing could mean it is too close to a well or on someone’s property. These failing systems will help your costs. Residents can talk to the council or Bollig. Willing to work with the residents. The council will get Bollig a list of people who they could talk to. We need exposure of failing systems.
There is at least 2 months of work to be completed. Looking for Lake Association presidents, if anyone knows please let Bollig know. Bollig needs an answer regardless.
Rebuild of some gravel roads and alleys. A map was presented.
Cost to pave the streets. Map was presented.
A preliminary cost estimate was presented: Prices included Burtrum only. Total cost is $10,931,000. That price does not include paving gravel streets $937,000 and drinking water systems $4,964,000. Could term out for 10 to 40 years.
Next Steps: 1. What direction does the city want to go, project scope –
2. Bollig will be working for the final draft of the PER
3. Schedule inspections of septic systems. – Verbal, pulling records from the county
4. Additional discussion with Lake Association Long and Big Swan
5. Schedule Council Meeting for final draft PER approval – Goal to leave the meeting with approval, if not ready, can make changes. But Bollig has a good understanding. Project needs to be very very affordable.
Questions/Comments: Add Mound Lake to the Lake Association. Grey Eagle, Swanville.
Mayor – Anything comes up please reach out.
Question: Once the pond exists there is no building. They can’t make you move the pond.
Adjournment: 6:20 PM
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