CCP 07-28-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 14,2003 8 . I have recently been in touch with both the DNR and the Rice Creek Watershed District. I have been told by both that there are certainly other avenues for pumping, rather than utilizing the storm system on Wyncrest Court should the City decide that it was necessary to lower the level of Karth Lake. In talking with Steve Hobbs, the District Administrator of the Rice Creek Watershed District, I was advised that he was not certain that the situation warranted pumping at this time, and again, stated that there are certainly other avenues available for pumping. Please understand that the avenue of pumping used previously is not a solution to altering the water level of Karth Lake. If there is an issue that needs resolution, an appropriate resolution must be determined, but it is critical that this resolution is not simply removing a problem from one area and creating a problem elsewhere. During the last City Council meeting regarding this issue, there were residents of Wyncrest Court who indicated that they were adamantly opposed to using their storm sewer system for reducing the water level of Karth Lake. There were residents of Amble Road who stated if the pumping was to occur, they felt that the . cost of the pumping should be incurred by the residents of Karth Lake. There were other residents who lived on Karth Lake, who were adamant that the lake should not be pumped. Some of these residents indicated that they had lived on the lake for many years and that the water levels were much higher than they were last fall. They stated that the trees that some of the residents were attempting to save had experienced these water levels in the past. They further stated that they had actually motored around these trees in their boats in previous years. Several other residents who stated that they were very vocal in favor of having the lake pumped approached me to sincerely apologize for placing their problems at my doorstep, indicating that was never their intent. It is no one's desire that the homes around Karth Lake incur water damage. However, it must be determined whether pumping the lake is the appropriate solution to this matter or if there is a better solution. A number of the Karth Lake residents maintained that run off from new developments had increased the level of the lake. Is this correct? If so, is there a solution? In talking with Steve Hobbs of the Rice Creek Watershed District, I was advised that we have incurred a heavier rainfall in the past ten years than ever before recorded. Mr. Hobbs further indicated that even a small amount of water seeping into the ground from the . storm system on Wyncrest Court could present a problem when everyone's property is saturated. It is important to understand throughout this process that we are all experiencing significant level of rainfall.