HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-19Chair:
Tony Peleska
Secretary:
Gary Gerding
Board Members:
Aisha Elmquist
Linda Hansohn
Kathy Johnson
Susan Johnson
Gail Graff
Staff Liaison:
Todd Blomstrom
Karth Lake Improvement
District Board
REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday
December 11, 2019
1245 W. Highway 96
Arden Hills, Minnesota
55112
651.792.7800
www.cityofardenhills.org
Agenda
Board Meeting Convenes at 6:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER
1.APPROVAL OF AGENDA
2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.PUBLIC INQUIRIES
4.OLD BUSINESS
4.1 Costs and funding for repair of pumping system
4.1.1 Costs – Todd Blomstrom
4.1.1.1 Pump
4.1.1.2 Control panel
4.1.2 Funding recommendations of City Council and KLID Board
4.2. Agree on Communication Plan regarding funding/assessment decisions/recommendations
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Long Term Strategic Plan: Projects and Funding - Board
5.1.1 Maintenance of Existing Pumping System
5.1.2 Remediation of BMP #1 Site
5.1.3 Erosion Control at Pumping Site
5.1.4 Add Grit Chambers to storm drains that empty into Karth Lake and do not have Grit Chambers now
5.1.5 Add rain garden(s) on Karth Lake Drive when road is rebuilt as recommended in SW Urban Lakes Study
5.1.6 Remove silt from lake when grit chambers are installed at each storm drain that empties in Karth Lake
5.2 Near-term/annual strategic plan
5.2.1 Continue to monitor water quality annual through CAMP (Citizens Assisted Monitoring Program)
5.2.2 Continue to remove excess weed and debris from lake annually to the degree that residents support it
through donations
5.2.3 Maintain “Adopt A Drain” program: maintain storm drain stencils; recruit more residents to “Adopt a
Drain”
5.2.4 Periodically remove buckthorn from watershed
5.2.5 Periodically communicate best practices to residents to prevent nutrients from entering lake
6.NEXT MEETING
7.ADJOURN
Karth Lake Improvement District Board
Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting October 22, 2019
Call to Order/Roll Call
The meeting convened at: 6:30 PM
Present:
Board Members: Tony Peleska, Chair; Gary Gerding, Secretary; Aisha Elmquist;
Gail Graff; Linda Hansohn; Kathy Johnson; Susan Johnson
Staff Liaison: Todd Blomstrom Public Works Director
Karth Lake Residents: Renee Marino; Jason Rahn; Subree Subramanian;
Absent:
1. Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as written.
2. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes of the previous
meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 were approved as written.
3. Public Inquiries: None
4. Old Business
4.1. Reduce nutrients and debris that flow into storm drains; Illicit Discharge follow-
up report. – Gary Gerding: A Girl Scout, Kathryn Wacker, has volunteered to do a
demonstration project of the “Adopt a Drain” program for the Karth Lake watershed.
The Girl Scouts and Rice Creek Watershed District sponsor this project. Similar
organizations are sponsoring this program across MN and the U.S. Kathryn, working
with other Girl Scouts will: stencil storm drains; recruit Karth Lake watershed residents
to “Adopt a Drain” to keep free of debris; and raise awareness of the need to keep
nutrients out of gutters and storm drains through flyers and yard signs. Kathryn will
receive a Gold Award for completing this project successfully.
Kathryn (and her parents Janet and Grant) attended the Karth Lake Nite to Unite on
August 6, 2019 to present the “Adopt a Drain” program, sign up neighbors to “Adopt a
Drain,” and distribute several brochures explaining how and why to keep nutrients from
entering storm drains. Seven neighbors signed up online (using a computer that Kathryn
brought) to Adopt a Drain in the KL Watershed. (See photos at end of minutes.)
Kathryn has distributed door-hangers with information about the “Adopt a Drain”
program and how to help. She and a team of Girl Scouts will stencil drains throughout
the Karth Lake Watershed this weekend. The stencil will have a picture of a fish and say:
Dump No Waste – Drains to Lake.
4.2. Next steps towards removing accumulated silt from Karth Lake:
Recommendation – Gary Gerding. We agreed that the lake should first be protected from
additional silt by grit chambers before trying to remove existing silt. And we agreed to
discuss this further at the next meeting as part of our strategic plan.
4.3 Art Larsen Memorial Garden update: Maintenance and/or improvement plans –
Gary Gerding. At our last meeting Sue Polka volunteered to measure the perimeter of the
Garden and explore whether the city has more brick edging that could be used to edge the
garden. Todd said he would provide mulch for the garden next spring if we provide the
volunteers to distribute it. Susan Johnson said an anonymous donor would also help
improve the garden.
5. New Business
5.1 Karth Lake Pumping Discussion
5.1.1 Report of pumping done in 2019– Todd Blomstrom. The pump failed on July
23, 2019. The pump seals failed, and water got in the seals. Seal kits are no longer
available for this pump so it cannot be repaired. The lake level is several inches above
the DNR Marker.
5.1.2 Costs for replacement of pump, control cabinet, and retaining wall – Todd
Blomstrom.
5.1.2.1 Pump Cost: Todd reported that he has received two quotes for a new pump.
Both quotes were around $12,000.
5.1.2.2. Control Panel Cost: Todd estimated $30,000 to repair/replace the Control
Panel. He plans to get more specific quotes for the actual repairs needed.
5.1.2.3. Erosion Control Cost: Todd said the existing wall, built by Boy Scouts, is
beginning to lean toward the lake. This will eventually result in failure of the wall. His
initial estimate is around $100,000 to replace the existing structure with something that
will last longer.
Renee Marino said her son was the Eagle Scout who led the building of this erosion
control wall. She said the RCWD participated in the design of the wall and the selection
of the site for the wall.
5.1.3. Funding Discussion: Board members observed that:
A. The city attorney said in the letter to the board that the residents on the lake were
the primary beneficiaries of all the above repairs and implied the residents should
pay for the repairs.
B. The City set a precedent with the initial pumping system, i.e., they paid for half.
That is, at a minimum, what they should pay this time.
C. The City has allowed development around the lake without sufficient
requirements for handling runoff from impervious surfaces. This caused the
runoff into the lake to increase significantly. And because the lake has no outlet
and a clay (impervious) bottom, there has been a significant rise in the lake level
above historic levels. This in turn caused the need for the pumping system.
Therefore, the City should pay for all or most of the repairs.
D. Everyone in the Karth Lake Watershed benefits from having the lake there to
receive runoff from their properties, therefore, everyone in the watershed should
pay for the improvements.
E. If lake levels are not controlled the erosion will cause trees to die and fall into the
lake. This will cause erosion of the shoreline. This in turn will cause progressive
erosion up the hills and undermine homes and other structures. The lake would
be shallowed by the erosion which would cause it to become eutrophic and turn
into a wetland. Property values would fall as would tax receipts.
F. Was there protection for the pump if the intake gets plugged with weeds and
debris? Or does it run dry and burn out it’s bearings? How was the intake
protected to prevent plugging? We were told by representatives of RCWD and
HR Green that plugged filters are a constant problem with lake fountains and
bubblers.
G. Unlikely that there a legal basis for charging residents for improvements on
parkland of a structure erected by city.
H. For erosion control, consider such as use of geogrid, plantings and trees to prevent
erosion instead of or in concert with building a stronger wall.
I. The Board decided to defer final recommendations until Todd has had a chance to
determine costs.
J. The Board decided to meet again in December to review the data that that Todd
has gathered by then so we can come to a final recommendation in time to enable
Todd to order and receive the pump and other items to permit a resumption of
pumping in the spring.
K. The Board decided to begin a formulating a long-term strategic plan to identify
and fund projects to maintain and improve Karth lake water quality.
5.2 2019 Excess Weed and Debris Removal Project: Results – Gary Gerding
This is a report of the process, scope, results, donations and costs of the 2019 removal of
excess weeds and debris from Karth Lake. This was made possible by resident donations
to maintain and improve Karth Lake water quality and appearance. As a result of
resident support, volunteer time and donations over the last 13 years we made and
maintained significant improvements in Karth Lake. The dissolved phosphorus and the
algae it feeds have been reduced and maintained over 30% and 50% respectively.
Water clarity has more than doubled from under 1 meter to over 2 meters on
average. According to Rice Creek Watershed District data, Karth Lake is one of the
few lakes in the Twin Cities that has actually improved over the last 13 years.
Because of increasing average temperatures and watershed runoff, we will have to
continue working to improve the lake to maintain our gains.
21 = Number of families on Karth Lake that asked for removal of the excess weeds and
debris from the lake adjacent to their property this year. This is more than the 14 who
participated in 2018. Eleven (11) of the properties were next to each other at the western
end of the lake. One was on the south shore midway down the lake. The other 9 were
along the north and east shores of the lake.
About 29 Cubic Yards = Volume of weeds and logs removed by a 4 person crew over
the 5 days of July 29th to August 2. This is about 1.4 cubic yard/property, about
30% more than last year. We had more weeds and slightly less logs than last year.
Gary sent photos of the truckloads of weeds, etc. to the Board. Floating logs and broken
deck pieces have destroyed docks and cause erosion when the storms throw them against
the shore. They are unsightly, obstruct access, and release nutrients as they decay.
Greater than 6 tons = Weight of weeds removed this year. That is about
600 lb./property. Docks were washed clean with lake water and a broom after the weeds
were hauled away.
$6,600 = Donations Received this year. Donations ranged from $150 to $750 and
averaged $314.29/participant. Your donations benefited all 40+ families on the lake
and members of the public who access Karth Lake via Cummings Park. We all get to
enjoy the cleaner lake and the wildlife it supports.
$7012.50 = Cost of Project. Costs averaged $334/property. This is the second
year donations did not fully cover the cost. However, we had a Karth Lake Fund
Reserve, all of which was used to cover the $412.50 shortage this year. Labor costs
were up from $49 to $55/hr. this year but that is still a much lower rate than competing
bids.
127.5 Person-hrs. = labor required for the removal. That is about 6.1 hrs./property.
That is about 0.6 hrs/property less than last year even though there were 30% more
weeds. The diminished number of logs saved some time. Also, efficiencies were gained
by drying the weeds on docks/shorelines before hauling them to the truck; the higher
number and closer proximity of participants.
5.3 Update of Karth Lake and Art Larsen Memorial Fund Balances: Report – Gary
Gerding
$77.00 Balance in Karth Lake Fund
$715.25 Balance in Larsen Fund
$1,204.75 Total of both funds
5.8 The next meeting will be at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary Gerding,Secretary
AGENDA ITEM –4.1
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 11, 2019
TO: Karth Lake Improvement District Board
FROM: Todd Blomstrom, Interim Public Works Director / City Engineer
SUBJECT: Karth Lake Pump Repair Options
Background
Staff was requested to obtain quotation information for costs to address needed repairs for the Karth
Lake outlet pump and potential replacement of the pump control panel. Electric Pump Company
inspected the project site and provided the attached quotation information, which provides for the
following four options.
Option 1: Replace Pump and Retrofit Existing Control Panel $13,002.00
Replace submersible pump and update the existing cabinet with the required phase convertor to run the
new pump. The cabinet remains at the current location.
Option 2: Replace Pump and Relocate Existing Control Panel $26,702.00
Replace submersible pump, retrofit the existing cabinet with the required phase convertor and
relocation of the existing cabinet back from the embankment.
Option 3: Replace Pump and Replace Control Panel at Existing Location $27,880.00
Replace submersible pump and placement of a new Simplex control panel with new components and
phase convertor at the existing cabinet location.
Option 4: Replace Pump and Relocate a New Control Panel $34,430.00
Replace submersible pump and placement of a new simplex control panel with new components and
phase convertor, relocated back from the embankment.
Requested Board Action
The Board is requested to discuss pricing options provided above and provide a recommendation
regarding the preferred option for repairs to the pump and control panel.
Attachment
Attachment A: Cost Quotations from Electric Pump