5.6. SR 11-12-2002Howard R, Green Gompany
Item 5.6.
November 7, 2002
File: 230000M-0325
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: UTILITY SERVICE TO GRAVEL MINING AREA
Dear Council Members:
This correspondence is a follow-up to my letter dated October 24, 2002, regarding a large gravel
mining area study to determine if it is practical to provide City sanitary sewer and water service in the
future. As Council directed, we have looked at a much smaller area, essentially that land lying south
of County Road 33 (CR 33) between Trunk Highway 169 (TH 169) and the abandoned railroad bed.
As we discussed this issue further at a staff meeting, it was the conclusion of City staff that it is not
necessary to undertake a feasibility study at this time for the purpose of determining whether or not
portions of the gravel mining area of the City can be serviced by City sanitary sewer and water in the
future. We make this recommendation to not proceed with a feasibility study at this time for the
following reasons:
Based on information contained in the Elk River Gravel Mining District Environmental Impact
Statement dated May 1994, it is clear from the finished elevation of the mining area that it is
possible to service with City sanitary sewer and water from an engineering perspective.
Relative to a comprehensive plan update and possible inclusion of a portion of this land in a
newly expanded urban service boundary, the financial feasibility of providing City sewer and
water service to the area is not a paramount issue.
We know that the Elk River wastewater treatment plant can ultimately be expanded to provide
treatment for up to approximately 3 million gallons of sewage flow per day. Currently the plant
is operating at approximately 1.1 to 1.2 million gallons of sewage flow per day. In general
terms, over fairly large areas, sewage generation rates will be approximately 1,000 gallons of
sewage flow per day per acre. The area south of CR 33 between TH 169 and the abandoned
railroad bed will clearly not tax the ultimate capacity of the wastewater treatment plant. If this
portion of gravel mining area is included in the urban service district with the comprehensive
plan update, when gravel mining is coming to a close, it will be the property owners
responsibility to petition for a feasibility study relative to sanitary sewer and water, and they will
be expected to pay for the cost of the study.
Ltr-110602-Council[1]
1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 ° 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
City Council
Page Two
November 7, 2002
In conclusion, staff did discuss the smaller area that the City Council wanted looked at and we see no
reason to undertake a study at this time to answer the question of whether or not sanitary sewer and
water service is possible from an engineering perspective. If you have any questions regarding this
issue, I will be in attendance at your November 12 City Council Meeting.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
Terry J. Maurer, P.E.
TJM:sgw
Ltr-110602-Council[1]
Howard R. Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS