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City Council Minutes Page 2 <br />jHy 3, 2003 <br /> <br /> Mr. Rohlf suggested that when the fecal count is in the 1,000 to 2,000 range the city could <br /> install a sign stating, "Caution: impaixed water quality-potential health risk if swallowed." He <br /> stated that if the count was over 2,000 then the beach could be closed to swimming. He <br /> stated that even a count of 2,000 is not a health threat in and of itself and a person would <br /> need to swallow the water before encountering a potential hazard. Mr. Rohlf stated that <br /> animal fecal is of less concern for human health than human fecal <br /> <br />Councilmember Motto suggested leaving the caution signs up throughout the summer. He <br />also stated a concern about kids being able to read and understand the signs. <br /> <br />Discussion was held on the policy for water monitoring guidelines. Issues discussed were <br />the fecal count limits to set for cautions and closures, types of signage, and the number of <br />samples to be taken. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kuester stated that there should be some type of education process to <br />inform people of why the signs are being changed, why the beach may be closed at certain <br />times, and what the levels of fecal coliform are after each test. <br /> <br />Mayor Klinzing stated that when the beach is closed, notice should be included on the city's <br />website. <br /> <br />COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN MOVED TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING AS <br />THE CITY OF ELK RIVER'S POLICY REGARDING WATER TESTING AT <br />ORONO BEACH: <br /> <br />TESTING FREQUENCY <br />THREE SAMPLES SHALL BE TAKEN AT ORONO BEACH EACH <br />THURSDAY AND MONDAY AND ANALYZED FOR FECAL <br />COLIFORM. THE RESULTS OF THE SAMPLES SHALL BE <br />AVERAGED. <br /> <br />STANDARD FOR POSTING WARNING <br />IF THE AVERAGE FECAL COLIFORM COUNT OF THE THREE <br />SAMPLES TAKEN AT ORONO BEACH ON ANY SINGLE DAY <br />EXCEEDS 1,000, SIGNAGE SHALL BE POSTED AT THE BEACH <br />STATING "CAUTION - IMPAIRED WATER QUALITY - POTENTIAL <br />HEALTH RISK IF SWALLOWED". SAMPLING WILL BE CONDUCTED <br />EVERY DAY FOLLOWING THE EXCEEDANCE UNTIL THE <br />AVERAGE OF THE THREE SAMPLES TAKEN AT THE BEACH FALL <br />BELOW 1,000 FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS, AT WHICH TIME <br />THE CAUTION SIGNS SHALL BE REMOVED. <br /> <br />STANDARD FOR BEACH CLOSURE <br />IF THE AVERAGE OF ANY SINGLE DAY'S SAMPLING EXCEEDS A <br />FECAL COLIFORM COUNT OF 2,000, ORONO BEACH SHALL BE <br />CLOSED AND SIGNS THAT READ AS FOLLOWS SHALL BE POSTED: <br />"BEACH CLOSED - IMPAIRED WATER QUALITY - POTENTIAL <br />HEALTH RISK IF SWALLOWED". THE BEACH SHALL REMAIN <br />CLOSED AND DAILY TESTING SHALL BE CONDUCTED UNTIL <br />FECAL COLIFORM COUNTS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAY'S <br />TESTING (THE AVERAGE OF THE THREE TESTS TAKEN AT THE <br />BEACH) FALL BELOW 2~000, AT WHICH TIME THE CAUTION SIGNS <br /> <br /> <br />