9-05-2023 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Minutes August 7, 2023 Page 2 of 7 develops a wellhead protection plan. He said a public hearing will occur once the plan amendment is completed in approximately one to one and a half years. He stated about ten years ago a hydrologist in Saint Paul looked at the city wells and modeled how long it takes for water to get to the city wells within a 10-year time of travel. He said Minnesota rule requires that there be a 10-year time of travel protection zone and once that protection area is established, they inventory potential contaminant sources within that area and develop strategies to manage the contaminants to keep them out of the drinking water. He said the current plan has expired but there is an extension that's going to allow for that plan to be completed into 2025. He explained that computer modeling has improved, and the capture area now reflects a twenty-year time of travel. He stated many communities he has worked with on plan amendments have had similar situations. Mr. Parthun explained the inner well management zone or the emergency response area which is one year of time of travel and the outer circle is the well head protection area which is the ten-year time travel originally which is now a twenty-year time travel. He explained types of contaminants and vulnerabilities they look for. He explained a combination of water chemistry and well construction is what formulates and determines the vulnerability. Discussion ensued about the cost, funding and cyber security. Mr. Parthun presented the City of Pequot Lakes with a Certificate of Recognition from the Minnesota Department of Health for the City's exemplary commitment to protecting its community drinking water source. 5.2 Safe Routes to School Tad Erickson, Planner from Region Five Development Commisssion, presented the Safe Routes to School Study that was conducted for the Pequot Lakes School District. He said it is a program that MNDOT has, and it is to get more students walking and biking to school when it is safe to. He said there are two sides to the Safe Routes to School: health and wellness and transportation infrastructure like signs, sidewalks, lighting and trails. He said the City provided a letter of support for the application for a grant to complete the Safe Routes to School study. He explained the process and timeline for the study and observations that were made during the process. He addressed the main goals that came from the study with one being the County Road 11 trail development and it is a high priority. He also said bus drop sites and increased law enforcement presence were noted as well. Mr. Erickson said MNDOT had additional funds and $5,000 was granted for bike racks for the school. He said additional parking and pedestrian facilities are needed. He stated the Rasmussen road sidewalk comes to an end and there was a recommendation to finish that sidewalk. He said the School moved to adopt the Safe Routes to School, but it is not a requirement for a City to act. He stated it would be a benefit for the City to adopt the plan and it will help applications for future funding for the projects recommended in the plan. He said this does not commit the City to recommendations in the plan but adopting it just shows support for the plan. Discussion ensued about the goals in the plan.