09-11-2007 ERMU MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 Regular meeting of the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission September 11, 2007 David Berg updated on the water maintenance being done on the hydrants, valves, and flushing of hydrants. Theresa Slominski reviewed the deposit procedure and progress to date. The Utilities... and City have joint property and liability insurance through the MN League of Cities. The City is looking at changing the deductible on the insurance policy to a $5000 deductible instead of the current $2500. The majority of our damages are under the $2500 range and never make it to the claim filing stage. There would be a premium savings to change the policy. Also, the health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield will increase by 12.7% for 2008. This will be approximately $50,000 for Utilities portion and employees at $150 per year for single coverage, $300 for single plus one, and $500 for family coverage. Jerry Gumphrey would like to revisit this issue to ensure that it will not be a burden to the employee, staff responded the insurance committee made up of employees can meet to discuss the costs and the 75% / 25% split. 5.2 Review Abandoned Water Service Policy As homes are demolished or moved from a site, the abandoned water service continues to be a problem. Recently there have been a number of houses demolished on either major streets or streets that were recently rebuilt and the county or city will not issue street disruption permits to allow the owner to disconnect the water service. The county or city does not want the new street cut and damaged to remove a water service that may never leak. The utilities position is the possible contamination from the stub water lines. The major concern is finding the correct or unknowing property owner and having them fix a leak if and when one develops. Our current policy allows the property owner to post a bond, but many property owners do not want the hassle of the long term bond. City Engineers suggest having the property owner pay Elk River Municipal Utilities to take on the liability to remove the water service when it develops a leak. Discussion followed regarding the options. Jerry Gumphrey would like staff to get pricing to repair a leaking water service. This will be revisited at a future meeting. 5.3 Review Elk River Geolo~y In August Bryan Adams and David Berg attended a DNR sponsored meeting concerning water quality and quantity issues in the northwest suburbs. The main purpose was to promote the shared use (and construction cost) of a proposed surface water treatment plant in Ramsey, Minnesota. DNR wants the City of Ramsey to use a Mississippi River source treatment plant in lieu of Mt. Simon Hinkley aquifer wells. DNR is allowing Elk River to utilize the Mt. Simon Hinkley aquifer because of our pro-active conservation record and being outside the seven county metro area. Area maps of the northwest suburbs were reviewed. Elk River is on the edge of the Mt. Simon Hinkley aquifer that runs under the metro area across and into Wisconsin. If more communities tap into the aquifer, the water table in the aquifer could drop