5.2. SR 08-04-1997City of
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
ITEM 5.2.
ver
MEMORANDUM
Mayor and City Council
Laurie Mezera-Ker~hvironmental and Code Enforcement Officer
July 31, 1997
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES & CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
SCORE GRANTS
Spring Clean Up Day Results
This year the City received the maximum SCORE grant reimbursement of $3,500 for our spring
clean-up event. In total, this year's event provided service to 363 residents and recovered the
following items: 272 appliances, 710 tires, 223 pieces of furniture, 78 brown goods, 131 auto
batteries, 118 fluorescent bulbs and over 8 ½ tons of scrap metal. Roughly 24.39 tons of
materials were collected during this four hour event. The next City clean-up day will take place
during the spring of 1998.
Recycling in the Parks
On July 3, the City kicked off its "Recycling in the Parks Program." The basic premise for
offering this service is to divert recyclable materials from the waste stream along with, educating
residents on recycling. Currently, recycling is available at: Orono Park, Kuss Field, Lions Park,
Oak Knoll Field and the Softball Complex. The program is a cooperative City/County pilot
project, partially funded by SCORE. This program could be expanded to other locations in Elk
River, or to other cities in Sherburne County depending on its success.
In detail, Elk River's park recycling program utilizes a two cart collection system, a green cart
for recycling and a black cart for refuse. Adhesive decals have been added to both carts to help
residents distinguish between them. To date the program is working well. However, additional
measures such as location posts or concrete slabs may make each cart's location more permanent.
To monitor collection efforts, the City's contracted hauler will provide the City with monthly
recycling reports. Moreover, should the program prove successful, lower collection costs could
result as fewer carts are needed for the collection of waste.
13065 Orono Parkway ° P.O. Box 490 ° Elk River, MN 55330 ° TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Energy City SCORE Grant Request
Ms. Sarah Coppock of the Energy Alley Program and I, are working to incorporate green
products into some of the demonstration sites for Energy City. Specifically, the Energy House
being constructed by the Suburban Northwest Builders Association is the first site proposed to
introduce these materials.
The primary focus of this SCORE Grant proposal, is to educate residents on the availability of
green products that can be incorporated into remodeling projects or new construction. This
program is the next logical step from curbside recycling, because it helps to create a market for
recycled materials.
A few examples of green products that may be used at the various demonstration sites include:
carpeting made from recycled pop bottles; ceiling tiles created from recycled newspapers;
countertops manufactured from recycled junkmail; wood flooring, paneling and millwork made
from reclaimed timber; and floor tiles produced from recycled porcelain and clay.
Tub Grinder SCORE Grant Request
Recent violent weather has brought to the forefront the need to improve existing tree waste
disposal services. Beyond natural disasters, even everyday brush disposal is becoming a
significant issue as our community continues to develop. To address this problem, Phil Hals and
I have been working on acquiring a large capacity tub grinder through the assistance of 1998
SCORE Grant funding. The primary emphasis of our proposal will be to improve tree waste
disposal service for residents. However, a secondary benefit will be the availability of shredded
mulch or wood chips for use in City parks and landscaping projects or to residents free of charge.
Through grant assistance, we propose to collectively share and operate a large capacity tub
grinder. This heavy-duty piece of equipment is one which few communities can afford alone.
Yet, through a collective equipment sharing program the financial burden of this equipment
becomes permissible. Along with the City of Elk River, this grant will be submitted on behalf of
several neighboring cities and townships.
SOLID WASTE & CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES
Code Enforcement Update
Attached for your review, is a copy of the 1997 complaint cases. Roughly 53 complaint cases
have been registered this year. Of these cases 39 have been resolved and 14 remain on-going. In
addition, 2 cases from 1996 have been concluded as well. For your review, I have prepared a
summary of the complaint issues surrounding each of the 55 cases.
3
4
18
4
9
6
6
5
Buildings -- abandoned or in disrepair
Home Occupations -- prohibited or operating without a permit
Junk vehicles & debris -- two or more unlicensed vehicles and/or miscellaneous debris
Lawns -- noxious weeds and/or lack of vegetative cover
Miscellaneous Issues -- property line disputes, environmental issues, grading, etc.
Odors -- cause and source detection
Vehicles -- vehicles parked on landscaped areas
Wetland Issues -- dumping, filling and/or impacting
1997 Licensed Refuse Haulers
This spring 10 refuse haulers applied for, and received, licenses to provide trash collection
service in the City. Licensed haulers include the City's three contracted residential haulers, as
well as 7 commercial firms. Furthermore, the City renewed its refuse contract with Pretzel's
Sanitation. Pretzel's new contract will run through May of 1999.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
Sherbume County will be conducting a household hazardous waste collection event on
September 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. This event is free to all Sherburne County residents
who pm-register by September 19. Residents are encouraged to bring any unused oil base paints,
wood stains, driveway sealers, weed and insect killers, fuels and degreasers, etc. For more
information or to pre-register, residents are asked call Sherburne County Solid Waste at
241-2900.
Energy CiW Tours
Recently, I have been asked to provide support to the Elk River Energy City Program. It's
anticipated that I will assist by working out tour logistics such as, transportation, food, and hotel
accommodations for our visitors. Energy City forecasts tours to begin early this fall, with the
Energy Home being one of many featured locations.
attachment(s)
Complaint Log
Case Resident Address Complaint Inspection Date Letter Sent Staff Involved Compliance Date Case Progress
10/18/96 Business still being conducted on Car
95-30 Tail Wind Trailers 9784 Highway 10 Violation of CUP 9-Jan-96 Steve Ach ???? On-going Heaven site, little has been cleaned up.
Illegal 10/21/96 Council approved issuance of order requiring
95-31 James Charest 98xx Highway 10 grading/debris 18-Aug-95 18-Aug-95 Stephen Rohlf 30-Sep-95 On-going compliance by 11/21/96.
Lloyd Bartel & Larry Elk River Machine, 828 storage
95-33 Ebert - 4th Street NW screening Stephen Rohlf ???? On-going unlikely to be resolved
Gordy Model home on
95-59 Moldenhaurer Mississippi Oaks grading/drainage 5-Sep-95 Terry Zajac 11-Sep-95 On-going partially completed until second phase goes through
13690 - 186th Ave. Kendra Lindahl & 10/3/9~ sent another certified letter to Ms. John asking
95-60 Marcella E. John NW Junk Cars/Debris 8-Sep-95 2-Oct-95 Laurie Mezera-Kerr 1-Nov-95 On-going her to clean up the property.
17710 Cleveland St. Junk Cars/No. of Kendra Lindahl &
96-42 M. Dietrich/M. Seals NW buildings 9-Aug-96 =12-Aug-96 Laurie Mezera-Kerr 11-Oct-96 On-going 11/8/96 inspected site.
Noise complaint filed June 18, 1997. Trucks starting-
Unsightly/Debris/ Kendra Lindahl & up between 3:30-4:00 a.m. Spoke with property owner
96-52 Bonine Excavating 12669 Meadowvale Rd Noise 20-Sep-96 Laurie Mezera-Kerr On-going who will inform all tenants of the noise ordinance.
Public Nuisance Steve Rohlf &
96-56 Morrell Trucking 809 Jackson Ave. NW Issues Kendra Lindahl On-going
Riverview Sports & Steve Ach &
96-58 Marine 17445 Hwy. 10 vehicles in ROW Kendra Lindahl On-going
.............. ~ .......... ~ .............. ?'.'""%~:~:~:~:
odor complaint at
the Lincoln Steve Rohlf & Greg 3/19/97 Greg site inspected the area and by the time
97-7 Morrell Trucking 809 Jackson Ave. school 3-Mar-97 Berg On-going he ardved the odor was gone.
Page I 7/31/97
Complaint Log
by old Chrysler
=97-10 GresslerWholesale building tires &junk Steve Rohlf
Gordy unfinished
97-11 Moldenhaurer Mississippi Oaks backyard Terry Zajac have Terry contact Gordy
company burning
97-12 Morrell Trucking 809 Jackson Ave. something Steve Rohlf On-going
loosing freon,
gas, oil & battery
97-19 Custom Motors acid Steve Rohlf review site
pipe into Elk
97-23 David Wahlroos 189th & Pascal P, iver Steve Rohlf review site
Section 31, Township When crews are not busy public works will clean-up
97-25 City of Elk River 33, Range 26. illegal dumping Phil Hals On-going site.
The following conditions were visible several (6-12)
lunk vehicles cars, large piles of scrap metal, tires, junk etc. Most of
from prohibited Mr. Dean requested these items were cleaned up however, accessory
97-27 Kevin Dean 20020 Zane Street NW home occupation Laurie Mezera-Kerr. an extension On-going building must be painted & fence finished.
Page 2 7/31/97
Complaint Log
Case Resident Address Complaint Inspection Date Letter Sent Staff Involved Compliance Date Case Progress ~iiiiii~iiii~iii~??~ii~??~i~???iii??~i~?~~!~i~~:~i~!i~i??????i~!ii?~iii???~ii~ii~i?~
............................................................. ****************************************************************************************** .*,*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.-.-.-.:.-.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: ~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:*:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: i:i:i:i:i:!:!:i:i:i:~:i:i:~:!:!:i:~:~:~:[:~:i:i:i:i:!:~:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:~:!:[:!:i: :~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:[~:~[~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~~~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:[:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~
numerous barrels
filled with oil Barrels in the front yard were removed, however
filters, semi trailer 6/2/1997, extended numerous barrels remain on the rear property. Final
97-30 Andy Williams 10176 213th Ave. parked on site. 2-Jun-97 5/16/97 Laurie Mezera-Kerr to 1 August On-going ~nspection August 1, 1997.
unlicensed and
~noperative
571 Tipton Avenue vehicle parked on
97-32 Ruby Denson NW front lawn. 20-May-97 22-May-97 Laurie Mezera-Kerr '10-Jun-97 On-going Working to find senior assistance for Mrs. Denson.
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east of Proctor No~h abandoned
97-36 Leonard Babinski of tracks house Cliff Skogstad
N. Nelson & abandoned three buildings must be removed, owner have until 30
97-37 S. Thompson PIN ~ 75-116-2201 mobile home 23-May-97 Laurie Mezem-Kerr 30-Jun-97 Ongoing June to contact the City regarding removal
Page 3 7/31/97
Complaint Log
Arthur & Bernice Junk, debris and
97-52 Korthals 17379 Tyler Street junk vehicles Laurie Mezera-Kerr complaints case dates back to 1981.
Building in
97-53 Dan Richman Holiday Gas Station disrepair Stephen Rohlf
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