HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-13-79 Special Mtg.
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Hastings, Minnesota
February 13, 1979
The City Council of the City of Hastings met in a special meeting
on Tuesday, February 13, 1979 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Charrbers of the
Ci ty Hall, to receive the Barr Engineering report and imput fran citizens on
the Southwest Ponding Basin and Trunk Storm Sewer Study.
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Manbers present: > Leg1er/' Karnick, Novak, Trutna, Trautmann, Collins,
Stoffel, Shannon, and Mayor Petersen.
Councilman Novak had to be excused at the beginning
of the meeting.
Mayor's opening carrnents at the meeting: This public meeting has
been called to provide an opport~nity for Barr Engineering to provide a report
of their analysis and findings regarding the Southwest Ponding Basin and Trunk
Storm Sewer Study. The second purpose of the meeting is to allON interested
residents to provide imput to the City regarding the flooding problem and
solutions to the problem.
The information received tonight will be taken under consideration
by the City Council in laying out its course of action to remedy the problem.
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As many of you are aware, the City has been named as a defendant
in one lawsuit and there have been numerous claims made against the City which
may result in additional lawsuits against the City. These claims are for
damages that occurred during the flooding of the surrmer of 1978. Because the
City is the defendant in a lawsuit, it would not be appropriate for the City
Councilor City personnel or consultants to comment on certain issues involved
in litigation. Thus it may be necessary to defer answering of those questions
to an appropriate time in the litigation. This is necessary to avoid prejudice
to the City in that litigation. Thus we ask that your questions and ccmnents
be directed at solutions to the problem, not assessment of responsibility for
the problem.
The Mayor then turned the meeting over to the City Engineer, Leonard
Olson. Mr. Olson gave a status report of where we are regarding the problem.
He explained that to date the City has not been able to find any outside funding
but they are continuing to look for possibilities. The problem has been identified
and nON corrective measures rrrust be determined. A possible construction schedule
was given by Mr. Olson mentioning the potential of assessments on benefitted areas.
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Dennis Palmer fran Barr Engineering then proceeded with sumnarizing the
report. He stated that ten proposals for correcting the flocxting problem had
been considered which were narrONed do.vn to five and finally zeroed in on one.
The cost is estimated at 1.8 million dollars including administration and engin-
eering costs. Mr. Palmer then answered questions directed to him fran the
audience. John Simser wanted a tanporary dikeing system be placed around
Conzemius Park for added protection. Mr. Palmer explained that this would cause
problems and add canplications for hares on the south edge of the Park. Mrs.
Thanas Holmes was concerned that inundation of Park may build up hydrostatic
pressure thereby damaging basements. Mr. Palmer indicated it was his experience
that short duration inundation does not affect ground water in this manner.
Wm. Wendler asked about a West side dike and ponds and then pumping to the,Ver-
million River through sane sort of siphoning system. Mr. Peters suggested that
since the problem is at the west end, possibly a dike could be constructed, or a
series of check dikes. Mr. Palmer explained that diking has been thoroughly
reviewed and it is not a reccmnended approach. A major factor is that with a
dike ,one builds into the municipal system the possibility of a rare catastrophic
event due to a dike leakage or break. Also, that new regulations (DNR) dictates
designs based on a 'probable maximum precipitation' which greatly increases size
, and cost of such a facility. Mr. Palmer also stated check dams only provide a
temporary solution at a substantial cost. Richard Bond indicated he felt the
proposed outflON of the Southwest Ponding Basin to the Vermillion River should not
occur. He stated it might add to the Vermillion River flood level and there is
no justification of running water to the Westwood area and it is just another set-
up as far as he's concerned. The water should be run to the Mississippi River
and not the Vermillion River.
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After everyone was given the opportillli ty to speak on the subject
losed the meeting by thanking everyone for caning and stated that
ve a big problem but you will be kept informed as to progress
tings.
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