5.4 ERMUSR 08-16-2005 1
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' Elk River
O Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway phone: 763.441.2020
IElk River, MN 55330 Fax 763 441 8099
IAugust 5, 2005
ITo: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Jerry Takle
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Jim Tralle
John Dietz
IFrom: Bryan Adams
Subject: Antennas On Water Towers
IAt our July Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission meeting, we briefly discussed
communication antennas on our water towers. Attached is the following correspondence
pfor your review.
1) March 29, 2000 memo.
I2) July 13, 2005 memo to City Council.
I This issue was discussed at the July 25, 2005 City council meeting. It was the consensus
of the council that we enter into negotiations with the telecommunication companies to
allow antennas on our water towers instead of building telecommunication towers.
ITelecommunication towers present some zoning issues for the cities.
Michele McPherson, Director of Planning, is arranging a meeting with the affected
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parties.
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ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
16 _
322 King Avenue
I V '• Elk River, Minnesota 55330
Phone (612) 441-2020
: Fax (612)441-8099
IMarch 291i, 2000
ITo John Deitz
1 From Bryan Adams PA,
ISubject Telecommunication Antennas on Water Towers
I As you are aware, Sprint desires to place a telecommunications antenna on one of our
water towers The issue was discussed at our July 9th, 1997 and March l4`h, 2000 Elk
River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) Commission meetings. I have been dealing with Philip
I Carlson, Sight Acquisition Specialist, with the Everest Group Also attached is a letter
dated March 17`h, 2000 from David Huihui of the Everest Group addressing the same
issue
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There is no question that good cell phone communication is an attribute to Elk River
Current cell phone reception in this area is marginal. The question is how can we
Iaccommodate these companies while preserving our interests. I have taken a strong
stance to deny placing an aerial on our three active water towers for the following
reasons
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1) The parties who have antennas on the tower need access to their equipment,
which mean_ they need keys to the tower ERMU will then loose control of who
has access to the tower and loose the security of the water system. Access to the
Iwater system is obtained by roof hatches in the same area as the antennas They
also require a 15' by 15' space inside or outside the tower. We do not have
I adequate room for this. Both city and utility equipment are stored under the
towers
2) If we let one company use the tower for antennas, we must then allow access to
I all other telecommunication companies (AT&T, US West, Aerial, etc ).
3) The presence of antennas increase costs of maintenance on water towers. Cables
running up the dry well make it more difficult to blast and paint around The dry'
I well is already a difficult area for painting systems Also, water tight roof
penetration must be added. Another source of maintenance and painting failure.
4) The City and Utilities are considering a GIS system for Elk River A GIS base
III station would be requiied and the water towers provide an ideal location
Interference with an existing telecommunication signal may preclude this option
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5) Allowing third parties to have access to the eater towers will increase
City/Utilities liability in case of an accident Even though a tight indemnity clause
can be incorporated in a lease agreement, the City/Utilities will still be part of any 1
legal proceedings
6) The $500/month lease payment is not nearly enough to offset the risks contained
in item #'s 1-5, particularly item 41, at what price do we sacrifice security of the
community's water system?
We are also sensitive to aesthetics in Elk River. Elk River already has three mono poles 1
to be used for telecommunication plus numerous radio towers in Northern Elk River
Opportunities to utilize these facilities also exist. I have taken the time to show Everest
Group other possible areas in our community and offered the use of the two out of service
water towers (Jackson Ave across from Fire Station, Water tower north of Cretex
Concrete plant). Sprint was not interested in these other options either
cc James Tralie
George Zabee
file
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I Certification of Completion of Assessment
A final step in completing the `Security Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide for Small Drinking Vater Systems Serving Populations
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Between 3,300 and 10,000" is to notify the Minnesota Department of Health that the assessment has been conducted Please fill in the
following information and send this page only to the appropriate Minnesota Department of Health contact so that this certification can be
included in the records that the state maintains on your water system
• DO NOT send the completed vulnerability assessment (VA) to the Minnesota Department of Health unless your stale requires VA
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submittals competed •
▪ DO send the VA to the U S EPA Administrator by June 30 2004 to satisfy the requirements of the Federal B oterronsm
Act You must also certify to the U S EPA Adm n strator that you have developed or updated your emergency response plan
Ibased on your VA within six months of submitting your VA to the U S EPA The Agency will be providing instructions to water
systems to follow when submitting your VA and certification Please follow these U S EPA procedures when released
Public Water System
I (PWS) ID: Number: 171004
System Name: Elk River Municipal Utilities
II
Address: 322 King Ave.
Town/City: Elk River State: 1,..2,;
IZIP Code: 55330
Phone: 763-441-2020 Fax: 763-441-8099
PI Email:
Person Name: Bryan Adams
ITitle: General Manager
Address: 322 King Ave.
ITown/City: Elk River State: MN
ZIP Code: 55330
IPhone: 763-441-2020 Fax: 763-441-8099
Email:
I24 Hour Emergency Contact Information for Your System:
Bryan Adams
I Contact Person: First Name Dave Last Name Berg
Daytime Phone: 763-441-2020 Fax: 763-441-8099
Emergency Phone : 763-441-2020 E-mail :
Cell Phone: 612-859-9666 (Adams)
612-845-6190 (Berg)
I certify that the information in this vulnerability assessment has been completed to the best of my knowledge and that the appropriate
parties have b•-• of f ed of the assessment and recom ended steps to be taken to enhance the security of the water system
ermo••, a copy •f the completed asses en) will b retained at the pubic water system, in a secure location, for state review as
esled
ti gned
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Date �0.
I29
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Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway phone: 763.441.2020
Elk River, MN 55330 Fax 763 141 8099
July 13, 2005
To: Elk Ri\er City Council
From: Bryan Adams At'
Subject: Telecommunications Antennas on Water Towers
In the process of trying to locate additional telecommunication towers in Elk River, it is
the desire of this council to revisit the issue of locating telecommunication antennas on
our water towers as an alternative.
' This issue was first discussed in 1997 and again in 2000. Attached is a memo dated
March 29, 2000 addressing this issue. With the enactment of the Federal Bioterrorism
Act, all water utilities serving populations in excess of 3,300 are required to do a security
vulnerability self assessment and submit it to the Minnesota Department of Health and
the U.S. EPA administrator. Elk River has done this assessment and attached is the
"Certification of Completion of Assessment." This vulnerability assessment and
associated procedures for access to water towers is now raised to a new level.
' Currently the Elk River Municipal Utilities does allow 2-way radio antennas on our water
towers for the Sherburne County Sheriff/Elk River Police Department, Elk River Street
Department and Elk River Municipal Utilities. These organizations are allowed on the
towers because they are local known entities and we can control the access. Security
issues are a much less concern with local law enforcement agencies.
The security issues can be resolved with a number of strategies. They are as follows.
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I 1) Utilize a non-operational water tower such as the tower on Jackson Street.
Telecommunication companies have been reluctant to use this tower
possibly due to location, age, or not tall enough.
2) Antennas being located on the outside of the tower in the fluted area below
the bowl where inside access is not required. This may not be acceptable due
to not being high enough.
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3) Some telecommunication companies have begrudgingly offered to pay for a
utility employee to be on site while they do the installation and ongoing
maintenance. Unfortunately this is not so much of a money issue as a time ,
issue. Currently the utility does not have adequate personnel to watch over
telecommunication contractors do their work. It is necessary to do background
checks on the telecommunication contractors and does the police department '
have time to do them?
In conclusion, telecommunication companies have not shown any interest in the first two
alternatives. In regard to the last alternative, what the telecommunication companies
want to pay and what the Elk River Municipal Utilities needs to mitigate the last
alternative have not converged.
SI
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