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EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL <br />HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL <br /> MONDAY, JULY 3, 2003 <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Members Absent: <br />Staff Present: <br /> <br />Mayor Klinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Kuester, and Motto <br />(Councilmember Tveite via phone) <br /> <br />None <br /> <br />Finance Director Lori Johnson, Building and Environmental Administrator <br />Steve Rohlf, Ckief Operator Gary Leirmoe, and Recording Secretary Tina <br />Allard <br /> <br />Call Meeting To Order <br /> <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called <br />to order at 1:35 p.m. by Mayor Ia-3inzing. <br /> <br />Discussion of Protocol for Closing Lake Orono Public Beach <br /> <br />Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf stated that Lake Orono Beach had <br />been closed due to the fecal coliform count being greater than 1,000. He further indicated <br />that, although the count is now down, the beach remains closed under the city's current <br />policy because the geometric means of the last five days testing has not drop below a count <br />of 200 that is needed to reopen it. NIX. Rohlf stated that the city is using the state guidelines <br />regarding the beach, but that no firm standard currently exists. He questioned using the <br />geometric means of five days testing since the water in the Lake only remains there for 3 or <br />4 days maximum. He discussed the 2002 fecal levels and noted that the beach had been <br />closed that year also. Mr. Rohlf stated that this latest closure is most likely due to the large <br />amount of rain run-off in the area. <br /> <br />Mr. Rohlf stated that fecal coliform is not a direct tie to health problems but that it is only <br />an indicator. He explaining that the higher the fecal coliform count the higher the likelihood <br />that there are pathogens in the water also. Symptoms are flu-like and most people may not <br />attribute them with swimming in the water so they tend to go unreported. <br /> <br />Vance Zehringer from the Lake Orono Improvement Association discussed a survey <br />completed of other local communities regarding testing procedures. He stated that most <br />cities do not perform any water quality monitoring. Mr. Zehringer stated that the City of <br />Minneapolis's policy is to only close their beach due to accidents or epidemics that are <br />verifiable to the beach. <br /> <br />Mr. Zehringer stated that some possible causes of high fecal counts in Lake Orono could be <br />cattle feedlots upstream in the river, septic systems, or storm sewers. He stated that he <br />(along with the city) completed testing last year of septic systems and couldn't find any leaks. <br />He stated that he would have no problem letting his grandchildren swim at the Lake Orono <br />beach. Nix. Zehringer suggested that the city adopt a policy similar to Minneapolis, whereby <br />the beach would only be closed when there is a direct [ink of illness attributed to the beach. <br /> <br /> <br />