Comments, questions, opinions and concerns expressed before during and after the February 10, 2015 Informational Meeting:

We need to what is best for the people around the lakes now and for future generations.  We can’t go into infinity with individual systems.

If we do sewer, aren’t Cleveland and Mankato also options.  Wenck response:  Those were considered, but Cleveland doesn’t have the capacity and the cost to expand is too high.  The pipe from Lake Washington to Mankato doesn’t have the capacity to handle our lakes.

Do I have to pay to have someone tell me I am non-compliant?  Can’t I just “surrender” and be considered non-compliant?  County response:  That is under consideration.

Is the cost of removing old systems built into the cost of the sewer option?  Wenck response: Yes.

On site systems pollute less than city sewer systems.

Even if working onsite systems are more effective, we have 50% of them non-compliant now.  Onsite systems have a limited lifespan.

Do we really want to send sewage to St. Peter?  They keep raising their rates?

I have already put in 5 systems so I don’t want to pay for city sewer.

I am on my 4^th system and I want a permanent solution so I don’t have to keep updating.

I pump my tank every year.  Why am I not compliant?

East Jefferson was the clearest ever this year.  I believe it was due to the low rainfall and little run-off from farm fields.  Why aren’t we going after agriculture? 

There are things we can control and things that we can’t.  No study or government official has claimed improved septic treatment will clear up the lakes.  We do know that non-compliant systems can affect the lakes and also groundwater.  We do know that every little bit helps. So we do what we can do.  This is something we can control.  We can’t directly control farming practices.

The cost of a city sewer may price young people and seniors out of lake property.  County response: The cost of sewer can be spread out over up to 20 years at today’s historically low interest rates.  There are also other grants that are being pursued.

Compliance standards are changing too fast.

We must address where the pollution is coming from.

Clusters are way cheaper than the Wenck analysis. Wenck response:  Yes, they can be.  Our assumption is based on the County doing the cluster systems.  They must use engineers, pay prevailing wages, and pay for legal documents to set up and manage the systems.  They must also find land to purchase and purchase enough land so there is room when the cluster reaches life expectancy.  You may be able to get a deal on land and get cheaper labor and find volunteers to do much of the work. You must also deal with enforceability issues with your agreement and with dealing with your system after it has met its life expectancy.

What is the service life of a pipe?  Will there be additional assessments in the future or has that expense been calculated into the current proposal?

Who pays for the grinders when they fail?  Wenck response:  That expense is covered by warranty in the early years.  The cost for future repairs has already been figured into the current monthly cost.

 

What if the sewer system fails in the future?  Is there any by-pass or contingency plan?

My system works just fine right now.  There is no reason for it to be inspected.  I refuse to pay for an inspection.

In our neighborhood we have room for our own cluster system and that is what we plan to do.

What is the life expectancy of a cluster system?  Wenck response: 20-25 years.

I have heard rumors that some of the existing cluster systems around the lakes are having problems?  Is that true?

Our Sewer Board has done nothing.  Our lakes are already the cleanest around.   From the 2013 TMDL study of the lakes:  In 2008, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) listed the Jefferson-German Lake Chain (JGC) as impaired for aquatic recreation due to excess nutrients under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.  The goal of this (2013) TMDL analysis is to quantify the nutrient reduction that will be required to meet the water quality standards established for lakes in the NCHF eco-region. Furthermore, this study identified the largest sources of nutrients (phosphorus) to the JGC and complements existing studies to provide reduction strategies for source areas in accordance with section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.

 

The county should require buffer strips along all waters flowing into our chain of lakes.  County response:  They intend to start enforcing the requirements along two of the ditches.

 

We can’t just keep postponing these decisions. We can’t just think about the short run.   We need a permanent solution where everyone is 100% compliant 100% of the time.

How will the County make a decision on this?  County response:  Based on the inputs received at the neighborhood meetings (These will occur starting in April) the County will vote to either do a sewer system for all of part of the chain of lakes or to let each neighborhood solve the problem in their own way.

MINNESOTA DNR NEWS #11                                                                                           Feb. 12, 2015
All news releases are available in the DNR’s website newsroom at www.mndnr.gov/news. 

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Officers find too many cases of ice anglers leaving trash behind

Recent weekly activity reports from conservation officers (COs) with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are full of evidence of various types of refuse being discarded along frozen waterways.

“Once again, the most common complaint dealt with while on patrol involved anglers leaving their trash behind,” said CO Bret Grundmeier of Hinckley.

Grundmeier spends hours each ice fishing season checking anglers and encouraging them to clean up after themselves and remove garbage from lakes. “It is disappointing to find so much trash left on our lakes,” Grundmeier said. “Anglers are urged to police themselves and others.”

Minnesota’s fish house removal deadlines are March 2 in the southern part of the state and March 16 in the north.

Conservation officers make a concerted effort this time of the year to monitor and identify possible problem areas.  “I’ve already warned a couple of fish house owners about the litter accumulating outside of their house, which they agreed to clean up,” said Paul Kuske, a conservation officer based in Pierz.  “I always tell people the area outside their fish house is not their front yard, it is public waters,” he said.

Conservation officers see everything from wooden fish house blocking materials on lakes to empty propane cylinders, plastic bottles, pop cans, and even bags of human waste. All of these materials constitute litter. Littering is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000.

Used materials should be disposed of with local refuse haulers or at a local landfill. Litter tarnishes nature’s beauty, destroys wildlife habitats and ruins many opportunities for recreation.

Conservation officers also use technology to catch litterbugs, including digital pictures and GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates.

Excuses like, “I was going to go get that later,” will not work and anyone who leaves garbage on the ice will receive a citation for littering.

Conservation officers also have solid waste civil citation authority. These civil citations are “by the pound” or “by the cubic foot” penalties, and since they are not criminal charges, they don’t require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The person suspected of littering must pay the penalty and clean up the mess.  

The DNR offers the following tips to keep Minnesota waterways clean:

• Set an example for others, especially children, by not littering.
• Properly dispose of any materials that could trap or injure wildlife.
• Check with a local refuse provider or landfill for disposal of items.
• Keep a litter bag or trash container with you when traveling or outdoors.
• Secure trash container covers to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter.
• Cover and secure any vehicle, truck, or trailer carrying refuse.
• When visiting any recreation area, make sure to leave the area clean for the next person to enjoy.