4.1. ERMUSR 09-11-2012Elk River;
Municipal U
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Troy Adams, P.E. — General Manager
John Dietz — Chair
Daryl Thompson — Vice Chair
Al Nadeau — Trustee
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
September 11, 2012
4.1
SUBJECT:
Easement Considerations for Property Adjacent to Diesel Power Plant
BACKGROUND:
Located east of ERMU's power plant is a 6.6 acre lot with the address 1703 Main St NW (Parcel
ID 75- 133 - 4210). This property has no recorded easement for access to Main Street and
currently accesses the property through the ERMU Diesel Power Plant property (Parcel ID 75-
411 -0110) and ERMU Shop and Storage Building (Parcel ID 75- 411 - 0130). On July l7, the
Utilities Commission authorized Utilities staff to begin evaluating the specifics of the issue and
work towards developing a mutually beneficial solution. The authorization for preliminary work
was limited with a $4,000 maximum cost.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has been working with the City of Elk River on determining possible solutions. The
Utilities contracted Hakanson Anderson to provide survey work. A proposed access running line
was staked along the east boarder of the Utilities' property and connected to Main Street to the
north of the property. The City and State met at the site for a Technical Evaluation Panel
meeting. The City has communicated with ERMU that the proposed route or any route that
disrupts the wetland or wetland fringe would not be supported. The City is the Local Governing
Unit that would have final authority on this.
There are a number of options for consideration:
1. Grant easement through the current point of access through the material storage yard and
along the south of the Utilities' Diesel Power Plant. Regardless of compensation for the
easement, this option would create potential future issues with security and access
regulations for an electrical generation facility. This would also continue exposure to
liabilities that exist with public access through a municipally owned utilities' material
yard and travel adjacent to a municipally owned generation facility. This would also
continue exposure to theft. However, this option would be desirable to the property
owner and to the City's Environmental Administrator.
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2. A modification to Option #1 would be to reroute the existing access farther to the south
and fence off the access. Rerouting this existing access farther to the south would not
eliminate the liabilities adjacent to the power plant because there is limited space directly
south of the plant.
3. Formally document the easement concerns through the current point of access and appeal
for reconsideration by the City.
4. Do nothing. Continue to allow access through the Utilities' property and not grant an
easement. This would continue the exposure to liabilities of public access through the
Utilities' property. This also continues the Utilities' exposure to theft and vandalism.
5. Fence off the property to eliminate the liability and improve inventory security. The
owner would need to work with the property owners to the north and the City on a
solution that doesn't involve the Utilities. This option provides benefit to the Utilities
without investment into the solution.
6. Develop a solution that eliminates the need for vehicle access through the Utilities'
property.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff looks for Commission discussion and direction.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Sherburne County, MN Beacon Satellite map of 1703 Main St NW (Parcel ID 75 -133-
4210)
PI�EAEI 11
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Reliable Public¢ P O W E R E D To S E R Y E
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1639 a; i Street NW
Elk River, MN
Gate Created: 13/8/2012
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Parcel ID 75 -411 -0210 Alternate ID n/a Owner Address n/a
sec /Twp /Rng 33 -33 -26 glass 201 - Residential 1 unit
Property Address 1639 MAIN ST NW Acreage 0.20
ELK RIVER
District ELK RIVER CITY
Brief Tax Description n/a
(Note. Not to be used on legal do a.11nertN)
Last Data Upload: ad: 8/8/20'.12 136:34 I'M
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