6.6. ERMUSR 04-11-2006Ji
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
April 5, 2006
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Jerry Takle
Jim Tralle
John Dietz
From: Bryan Adams
Subject: Elk River Ford
phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.491.8099
Steve Rohlf of Elk River Ford will be at our meeting asking for a variance to a City and
Utility water policy. Elk River Ford is expanding their facility. Part of this expansion
includes a car wash. Last year the State of Minnesota required them to connect to the sewer
system because their drain field was or has failed. City and Utility policy required when a
customer connects to the sewer or water system, they must connect to the other. In other
words, they are required to connect to both. See attached policy, paragraph 7 & 8.
Last fall the connection was made to the sewer system. Because the pending construction
would interfere with the proposed water tie to their building, we allowed them to delay
connecting to the water system until this year. Although they still plant to connect to their
building, they desire to use an on site well to provide water to their proposed car wash. They
feel it is less expensive to use their well versus municipal water. Staff opposed this variance
and has informed Steve Rohlf of our policies.
The pro & con of this issue is as follows:
PRO:
1) Less overall cost to owner
2) Water use might contribute to water system peak day
3) Residence may keep wells for lawn sprinkling only
4) Well will require abandonment and plugging, adding to the cost
CON
1) City & Utility regulations require connection to both sewer & water system
when available ,both are available
2) Other business have suggested the same but were denied due to the ordinance.
Saxton Motors, Dolphin Car Wash, etc... Allowing this variance would set a
very dangerous precedence
3) Extending sewer & water into this area has added value and development
potential. Elk River Ford of all people know this. One can not pick and
choose what service they want because they don't like the price
4) The added water sales will help in paying for the installation and maintenance
costs of the water system infrastructure
5) Water system peaks occur from lawn sprinkling generally early morning or late
evening. A car wash will have little impact on system peak & system capacity
6) Elk River Municipal Utilities Well Head Protection Plan encourages eliminating
as many private wells as possible in the urban service district. Unused or
abandon wells provide a potential source of contamination to the ground water
system
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Elk River -~-~
____,
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
,;, ~ ~
August 25, 2005
Scott Powell
17219 Highway 10 NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Subject: Co~inection to Municipal Water
Dear Mr. Powell,
phone: 763.441.2020
Fax. 763.941.8099
I understand that you are being required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to
immediately hookup to city sewer due to compromised septic system. City Ordinance
requires that you also hookup to muriicipal water at the same time you hookup to city
sewer. You've indicated that you plant to expand your building within a year and are
concerned about locating and sizing you water hookup properly prior to those expansion
plans being completed.
The Elk River Municipal Utilities is requiring payment of the Water Availability Charge
af'thi~ time ($15,050 for 8.6 units), but in an effort to meet your needs is agreeable to
give yd~.1 a deadline of December 31, 2006 to physically hookup to this service.
Ik Riv
ipal Utilities
B,i~an Adams, General Manager
102 WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS
WATER RULES
CONNECTION TO MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM
The following buildings shall be required to be connected to the city water system at current fees and
rates: (Unless City Council by resolution establishes other time parameters for specific developments)
1) All buildings connected to the water system on the date of adoption of these rules shall
remain connected to the water system for so long as the building is occupied or used for any
purpose.
2) All buildings constructed in the future on property which water utility service is available at
the time a Certificate of Occupancy is issued for the building shall be required to connect to
the water system prior to occupancy.
3) All buildings constructed in the future on property to which water utility service becomes
available following legal occupancy of the building shall be required to connect to the water
utility as follows:
a) All residential buildings with one or two residential units shall be required to connect
to the water utility within two (2) years from the date water utility service becomes
available to the property or the date the property is assessed for water utility
improvements, whichever is later.
b) All other buildings shall be required to connect to the water utility within ninety (90)
days from the date water utility service becomes available to the property.
4) All buildings existing on the date of adoption of these rules on property to which water utility
service becomes available in the future shall be required to be connected to the water utility
as follows:
a) All residential buildings with one or two residential units shall be required to connect
to the water utility within two (2) years from the date the water utility service
becomes available to the property or the date the property is assessed for water
utility improvements, whichever is later.
b) All other buildings shall be required to connect to the water utility within ninety (90)
days from the date water utility service becomes available to the property.
5) All buildings existing on the date of adoption of these rules on property to which water utility
service is available but which has not been assessed for water utility improvements shall be
required to connect to water utility as follows:
a) All residential buildings with one or two residential units shall be required to connect
to the water utility within two (2) years from the date the water utility service
becomes available to the property or the property is assessed for water utility
improvements, whichever is later.
b) All other buildings shall be required to connect to the water utility within ninety (90)
days from the date water utility service becomes available to the property.
6) All buildings existing on the date of adoption of these rules on property to which water utility
service is available and which has been assessed for water utility improvements, but which
are not connected to the water utility, shall be required to connect to the water utility as
follows:
a) All residential buildings with one or two residential units shall not be required to
connect to the water utility unless or until the Elk River Municipal Utilities
determines on a case by case basis that connection to the water utility is necessary
to protect the public health, safety and welfare or to otherwise comply with
applicable law;
b) All other buildings shall be required to connect to the city water utility within two
years of the date of adoption of these rules.
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CONNECTION TO MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM continued
7) All buildings not connected to the city water system, and where the city water system is
available, that request waste water service shall also connect to the city water system.
8) All buildings not connected to the city water system, and where the city water is available,
where their well is in need or replacement or extensive repair, shall connect to the city water
system.
OWNER OR CITY TO MAKE REQUIRED CONNECTION
The owner of any building required to be connected to the city water system shall cause said building to
be connected to the water system at the owner's expense as required. If required connections to the
water system are not being made pursuant to this paragraph, the Elk River Municipal Utilities shall serve
written notice on the affected property owner stating that if connection is not made within ninety (90)
days after the date of said notice, the connection will be made by the Elk River Municipal Utilities at the
expense of the owner and that if unpaid, the charge for such work will be made a special assessment
against the property concerned. Such assessment, including interest at the legal rate for local
improvements, shall be certified to the County Auditor and collected and remitted to the City in the same
manner as assessments for local improvements. The rights of the Elk River Municipal Utilities /City
under this paragraph shall be in addition to other remedial or enforcement rights provided by the City
Code of Ordinances or other applicable law.(,adoPred,4prii ~o, 2001 by the Utilities'Commission)
SERVICE REQUESTS
Any person, firm or corporation desiring a connection with the municipal water system of the Elk River
Municipal Utilities shall apply through a licensed plumber at Elk River Municipal Utilities, at 322 King
Avenue. 24-hour notice prior to tap is required.
The applicant shall state the location of the premises for which a water service is desired, designated by
street, lot and block, name of owner, size of the tap required and the kind and size of service pipe to be
used.
A connection may be disallowed if all terms of abandonment of service covered by Water Rules have not
been complied with.
SERVICE STANDARDS
The "service" shall be part of the piping extending from the main in the street, including the corporation
cock, to the meter within the building. This shall be installed by a licensed plumber at the expense of the
property owner and remains the property of the owner.
Supply for the individuals and for individual premises shall be taken from the common or public supply in
the mains only through service pipes.
Each service shall include a corporation cock, supplied and installed by the Elk River Municipal Utilities
,or a person or company approved by Elk River Municipal Utilities, and charged to the plumber. An
inverted key stop cock, rod and a stop box with a telescoping top section as approved by Elk River
Municipal Utilities must be installed in utility easement, or as directed the by General Manager.
Elk River Municipal Utilities personnel will inspect the tap in all cases. The excavation site must be large
enough for Elk River Municipal Utilities excavation trench box to be installed in the hole for the protection
of Elk River Municipal Utilities personnel as required by OSHA.
Each service shall enter the building served thereby at a point readily accessible at all times, and as
close as possible to the point of service from the main.
A stop valve (ball type) shall be installed on each water service pipe at a point designated by the Elk
River Municipal Utilities, usually adjacent to the meter and shall supply no more than one premise unless
conditions make it impossible and inadvisable in the judgment of the Elk River Municipal Utilities General
Manager.
Water service shall be placed at least six (6) feet in depth below grade and seven and one half (7'/z) feet
beneath the street, throughout their length.
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