Council Minutes

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Thursday, September 12, 2002

The city council met as the Committee of the Whole on Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 12:00 noon in the council chambers in City hall with President Gershman presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Gershman, Kerian - 4; absent: Council Members Glassheim, Christensen, Kreun - 3.

2.1 Red Lake River Dam modification project.
Todd Feland, director of public works, reported that last week Mayor Brown received a letter from the City of East Grand Forks Water & Light Dept. requesting the City to consider participating in the non-grant portion of the Red Lake Dam modification improvement, that we draw our water from two rivers - Red River and Red Lake River - and East Grand Forks also uses both rivers for their water supply. He stated the DNR has provided as an incentive to improve that dam for safety and for fish passage, more recreational uses and provided a grant to the City of East Grand Forks of $140,000, $160,000 left to pay for the non-grant portion of that; East Grand Forks needs to get a commitment to MN DNR by the end of September and have asked the City of Grand Forks to participate in the non-grant portion. He stated it is good deal for us, the DNR did make some modifications on their design that will not limit our intake capability on that river and have made adjustments on their design so that we won't be hampered in any way and at the end of the process it will be a better dam. He stated they thought as a starting point is that we would pay 50-50 as both need that dam and if improved, seems fair to city staff and administration that the City would pick up 50% of the non-grant portion up to the $80,000 and that East Grand Forks would pay the other 50%; East Grand Forks will administer the grant and oversee the bids, and we will help provide some funding on the non-grant portion of that.

Council Member Kerian asked what the differences are re. fisheries and all the things that they looked at, and how the 50% was arrived at.

Mr. Feland stated the 50% was decided because both cities use the dam for our water supply and that the City of Grand Forks draws more water from the Red Lake River but the dam was going to be constructed in a certain form and fashion, no matter who was the largest user and for simplicity sake and 50-50 seemed to be fair compromise; that item will be going back to the East Grand Forks next week for approval.

Dan Boyce, East Grand Forks Water & Light Department, reported that Hazel Sletten, water plant superintendent, and Gary Helpford from East Grand Forks water plant and he had on-going discussions with DNR, the original proposal was to build a rock rapids upstream of the dam, remove the dam, and staff got hold of DNR and stated that wouldn't work and not comfortable that it will hold back enough water to supply water for us in drought conditions which they have experienced in the past from water treatment standpoint, and they came back with a modified design and in talking with reps. re. fisheries their revised design will meet the DNR's needs for fisheries and safety, modification of the dam, recreation opportunities and will meet cities' need of leaving the dam intact, leaving pumping pool in tact and is a good deal from the water supply standpoint, and looked like a good compromise. He stated the reason the cost went up is that there is a bigger hole to fill on the bottom side of the dam than there would be on the upstream side, lot of what is going to go in there is to fill a 20'+ hole to get it up where they can profile it on top of the water, and the finished product will be very much like what has been done on the Red River Dam. He stated it looked like a good opportunity from a budget


MINUTES/COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - 9/12/02 - Page 2

standpoint in MN and his commission was willing to take money from their reserves and pledge towards it so they could get the DNR to encumber their money, if we didn't do something now when we have an opportunity and a tragedy happened (somebody drown) the court of public opinion would find them wanting, and that was a major factor in his commission's decision to approve it even though it is not in the budget, would go to the reserves. DNR has stated that the construction could happen this winter on the ice when the level is stable and coming into next spring when trying to promote activities along the river, would have a finished product; and depending on the contractor it could be done in 2 or 3 weeks.

Council Member Kerian asked for source of funding for the project. The city auditor stated they would be requesting the council to amend the budget to use cash carryover from the water utility fund, that once get into 2003 have about $7 million cash carryover in that fund.

Al Grasser, city engineer, stated this started with the Red River, the dam at the river was owned by the City of Grand Forks and the DNR approached us with basically the same item when it came time to do something with our flood protection project; and because handled as a flood protection project, there was some joint maintenance responsibility between Grand Forks and East Grand Forks on the Red River dam, and because the Red Lake River dam is part of our water supply it made sense that there should be joint responsibility there also. He stated there will be some items coming to them in the future as they've been working on request from East Grand Forks to put together an agreement on maintenance on the Red Lake River dam and that is still in drafting stages between his office and the city attorney's office, and that is probably a 60-40% split, and have had discussions whether 50-50%, and this has pre-empted that but 50-50% has some sense because they are going to administer. 60% to East Grand Forks.

ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Hamerlik and seconded by Council Member Kerian to adjourn. Carried 4 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,


John M. Schmisek, City Auditor