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<br />SEP-19-2005 14:59
<br />
<br />LEAGUE OF MN CITIES
<br />
<br />6512811296
<br />
<br />P.02
<br />
<br />
<br />Loss Control Recommendations for Pond Safe
<br />Laco TROt
<br />
<br />"l:VThen cicies aIJow development
<br />W in their communities, they must
<br />also consider the: associated water
<br />drainage issL1cs. In many simadons,
<br />creating SC:Otm wa.ter retention ponds
<br />is pan: of the city', Water drninage
<br />solucion. If the cicy doe, nOt build such
<br />ponds, it could potcncialJy bc liable for
<br />water damaS" to property.
<br />Srorm vvatcr retention ponds, like my
<br />odlcr body afwacer. however, create
<br />the possibility of ccrt.,in risks. Wh>t if
<br />someone was injured or drowned in a
<br />city)s norm water retention pond?
<br />What i, the city's pocentialliability?
<br />Should the cicy have placed a fence
<br />around rhe pond? Are there any other
<br />meas~lr~s the city can tnkc: to minimize:
<br />the danger around ponds? .
<br />From a legal scmdpoinr:, Minnesota
<br />court cases have held that cities =y
<br />have a duty to secure c.01.i_~m.lcted pon.ds
<br />if it is foresee.ble that individuals,
<br />especially children, will be near such
<br />ponds. Citi.. ore also lefl'llly responsible
<br />for exerciliing reasonable care in the
<br />design and nuimcnance of the pond,.
<br />Cities should consider ways ro reduce
<br />Or elimirmte rhe potential risks associated
<br />with ponds.
<br />F...<i..g. The city should comider
<br />installing fencing if:
<br />. The pond is in a location where
<br />children may congregate (parks. pby-
<br />ground.s~ day care centers, schools).
<br />. The available J",d only allow> COn-
<br />stnlction of sreep..doped side~.
<br />. The city knows that the poud is used
<br />for recreation purposes, even thOLlgh
<br />the pond was noe constnlCted for
<br />recreation purposes (e.g.. swhnrrling.
<br />fishing, ice skaciog).
<br />Slopmg. Cities ,houId e"-<Ute thar the
<br />,lope of the pond is shallow; for =1'10,
<br />by building a long, sloping shelf around
<br />ehe edge chat leads co . deeper center.
<br />Such a design allows persons or animals
<br />that accidentally fall ineo ehe pOll.d to
<br />easily wade om of the pond.
<br />
<br />By Ellen Longfellow
<br />
<br />MizUrial. If the nu.terials around the
<br />pond arc slippery, ,ucll as thy or moss,
<br />the city should pllt down grovel or
<br />rocks so people who accidentally fall
<br />into the pond can e..'ily gee out.
<br />u,... If the pond is only being used
<br />fo< storm draimg<; retention, the city
<br />,hould clearly mark the pond with signs
<br />Stating that other uses are not .allowed
<br />and should periodically enforce th.osc
<br />rules. ror e"'=ple, the signs might
<br />state the following: "No Swim.ming,
<br />No Fishing, No Skating, No Boating.-
<br />The city could also publicize the rules
<br />pertaining co the wc of the pond in the
<br />city newsletter Ol1d on the city web site.
<br />Other uses. If the pond is being used
<br />for ocher purpo~cs in addirion [0 wa.ter
<br />retentionl make sure i[ is maintained
<br />for those purposes. For ex.'Utlple, ;f the
<br />city aIJows ;c<--skating on a pOl1d during
<br />the winter, it mllse monitor the depth
<br />and condition of the ice. Or if a pond
<br />i< available fi)r fis]';l1g and the surrolmd-
<br />ing area is used fur picnic<, the city
<br />should make Sure the pond and the
<br />surrow1ding; aTea are safe for those
<br />specific wes.
<br />Dod.... The city should not allow
<br />private docks to be built On cicy stonn
<br />sewer pond'. Since Ule dock is cormetted
<br />to a city cascnlCllt, the cicy would be
<br />potentially liable for any iujuries thst
<br />OCCut as a res"lt of the use of the dock.
<br />[f a city allows a ptivate doc.k, it shculd
<br />req\ljre thc dock owner to bave liability
<br />
<br />
<br />insurance and to sign an indc:mnification
<br />agteernent. .
<br />Signag.. If dangerous cQuditions
<br />like thin ice or a steep slope exist and
<br />cannot be eliminated, the city should
<br />place signs warning Qf those conditions.
<br />Natu,al ./rip a,oond po"". Consider
<br />uot mowing scrips aroUJld the ponds
<br />Ol1d :illow thorn to grow wild. These
<br />areas will help tilter runoff warer before
<br />it reaches rhe pond, Ol1d will discourage
<br />a.nimals .nd people from entering thc
<br />pond.
<br />Do",,,,rnl. The city should nuintain
<br />records ofany decisions rel.ting to its
<br />pouds. . .
<br />Cond.,ion. Please consider and
<br />follow these loss concrol recommenda-
<br />tiODs in otder to make your storm
<br />water ponds as safe as possi ble. You
<br />don'~ wnut to be in the posicion of
<br />solving your water drainage problems.
<br />but unintentionally creating a hazard-
<br />ous condition in your city. ~
<br />
<br />Ell.. iJJngfellow t, loss (ontrol llltDmey
<br />wirh tIw I..e~gll' rf Minnesota Cities
<br />[n""rall<< Trmt. Plume: (651) 281-1269.
<br />E-mail: elongfd@lm."..org.l.ho.or.to.I1...).
<br />'i/Dot" Drugg, IMCIT Los, Con,,,,l.
<br />
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<br />ioss CllN'l"1l0L QUARTI<k.LY
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<br />FHI 2003 ;l..-/~
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