07-03-2003 CC MIN - EMERGENCYEMERGENCY MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
MONDAY, JULY 3, 2003
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Mayor Klinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Kuester, and Motto
(Councilmember Tveite via phone)
None
Finance Director Lori Johnson, Building and Environmental Administrator
Steve Rohlf, Ckief Operator Gary Leirmoe, and Recording Secretary Tina
Allard
Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called
to order at 1:35 p.m. by Mayor Ia-3inzing.
Discussion of Protocol for Closing Lake Orono Public Beach
Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf stated that Lake Orono Beach had
been closed due to the fecal coliform count being greater than 1,000. He further indicated
that, although the count is now down, the beach remains closed under the city's current
policy because the geometric means of the last five days testing has not drop below a count
of 200 that is needed to reopen it. NIX. Rohlf stated that the city is using the state guidelines
regarding the beach, but that no firm standard currently exists. He questioned using the
geometric means of five days testing since the water in the Lake only remains there for 3 or
4 days maximum. He discussed the 2002 fecal levels and noted that the beach had been
closed that year also. Mr. Rohlf stated that this latest closure is most likely due to the large
amount of rain run-off in the area.
Mr. Rohlf stated that fecal coliform is not a direct tie to health problems but that it is only
an indicator. He explaining that the higher the fecal coliform count the higher the likelihood
that there are pathogens in the water also. Symptoms are flu-like and most people may not
attribute them with swimming in the water so they tend to go unreported.
Vance Zehringer from the Lake Orono Improvement Association discussed a survey
completed of other local communities regarding testing procedures. He stated that most
cities do not perform any water quality monitoring. Mr. Zehringer stated that the City of
Minneapolis's policy is to only close their beach due to accidents or epidemics that are
verifiable to the beach.
Mr. Zehringer stated that some possible causes of high fecal counts in Lake Orono could be
cattle feedlots upstream in the river, septic systems, or storm sewers. He stated that he
(along with the city) completed testing last year of septic systems and couldn't find any leaks.
He stated that he would have no problem letting his grandchildren swim at the Lake Orono
beach. Nix. Zehringer suggested that the city adopt a policy similar to Minneapolis, whereby
the beach would only be closed when there is a direct [ink of illness attributed to the beach.
City Council Minutes Page 2
jHy 3, 2003
Mr. Rohlf suggested that when the fecal count is in the 1,000 to 2,000 range the city could
install a sign stating, "Caution: impaixed water quality-potential health risk if swallowed." He
stated that if the count was over 2,000 then the beach could be closed to swimming. He
stated that even a count of 2,000 is not a health threat in and of itself and a person would
need to swallow the water before encountering a potential hazard. Mr. Rohlf stated that
animal fecal is of less concern for human health than human fecal
Councilmember Motto suggested leaving the caution signs up throughout the summer. He
also stated a concern about kids being able to read and understand the signs.
Discussion was held on the policy for water monitoring guidelines. Issues discussed were
the fecal count limits to set for cautions and closures, types of signage, and the number of
samples to be taken.
Councilmember Kuester stated that there should be some type of education process to
inform people of why the signs are being changed, why the beach may be closed at certain
times, and what the levels of fecal coliform are after each test.
Mayor Klinzing stated that when the beach is closed, notice should be included on the city's
website.
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN MOVED TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING AS
THE CITY OF ELK RIVER'S POLICY REGARDING WATER TESTING AT
ORONO BEACH:
TESTING FREQUENCY
THREE SAMPLES SHALL BE TAKEN AT ORONO BEACH EACH
THURSDAY AND MONDAY AND ANALYZED FOR FECAL
COLIFORM. THE RESULTS OF THE SAMPLES SHALL BE
AVERAGED.
STANDARD FOR POSTING WARNING
IF THE AVERAGE FECAL COLIFORM COUNT OF THE THREE
SAMPLES TAKEN AT ORONO BEACH ON ANY SINGLE DAY
EXCEEDS 1,000, SIGNAGE SHALL BE POSTED AT THE BEACH
STATING "CAUTION - IMPAIRED WATER QUALITY - POTENTIAL
HEALTH RISK IF SWALLOWED". SAMPLING WILL BE CONDUCTED
EVERY DAY FOLLOWING THE EXCEEDANCE UNTIL THE
AVERAGE OF THE THREE SAMPLES TAKEN AT THE BEACH FALL
BELOW 1,000 FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS, AT WHICH TIME
THE CAUTION SIGNS SHALL BE REMOVED.
STANDARD FOR BEACH CLOSURE
IF THE AVERAGE OF ANY SINGLE DAY'S SAMPLING EXCEEDS A
FECAL COLIFORM COUNT OF 2,000, ORONO BEACH SHALL BE
CLOSED AND SIGNS THAT READ AS FOLLOWS SHALL BE POSTED:
"BEACH CLOSED - IMPAIRED WATER QUALITY - POTENTIAL
HEALTH RISK IF SWALLOWED". THE BEACH SHALL REMAIN
CLOSED AND DAILY TESTING SHALL BE CONDUCTED UNTIL
FECAL COLIFORM COUNTS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAY'S
TESTING (THE AVERAGE OF THE THREE TESTS TAKEN AT THE
BEACH) FALL BELOW 2~000, AT WHICH TIME THE CAUTION SIGNS
City Council Minutes
July 3, 2003
SHALL BE POSTED AT THE BEACH. WHEN THE AVERAGE
LEVELS AT THE BEACH RETURN TO 1,000 OR LESS FOR TWO
CONSECUTIVE DAYS~ ALL SIGNAGE SHALL BE REMOVED.
Page 3
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
WHEN EVERY FECAL COLIFORM COUNTS RAISE ABOVE 1,000 A
DAILY SAMPLE SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE HIGHWAY 10 BRIDGE
AND WHERE THE ELK RIVER ENTERS LAKE ORONO TO
ASCERTAIN WHAT FUTURE WATER QUALITY MAY BE AND IF
THE HIGH FECAL COUNT ORIGINATED AT THE BEACH. THESE
TESTS SHALL CEASE WHEN THE AVERAGE FECAL COLIFORM
LEVELS FALL BELOW 1,000 AT THE BEACH FOR TWO
CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
NOTICE WHEN BEACH IS CLOSED
· STREET DEPARTMENT PLACES SIGNS AT ORONO BEACH
" AND PUBLIC ACCESS
· NOTIFY ELKRIVER POLICE DEPARTMENT
· LAKE ORONO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IS
NOTIFIED AND NOTICE IS POSTED ON THE
ASSOCIATION'S WEBSITE
· THE CITY WILL POST NOTICE ON ITS WEBSITE
· NOTIFY SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
· NOTIFY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR
o
COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
CARRIED 4-0. Councilmember Tveite was not allowed to cast a vote over the phone.
Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Gongoll stated that the July 4 festival
at Lake Orono was happening this weekend and he questioned how this will affect his event.
It was the consensus o£ the Council that according to the newly adopted guidelines the
beach closure signs could be removed.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 2:50 p.m.
Tina Allard
Recording Secretary