Posted 8/15/01 City, property owner begin to see eye-to-eye over storm sewer debate in downtown North Branch By Jason Sileo A water drainage problem in the downtown North Branch business district, a debate two years in the making, may be on the way toward resolution following North Branch City Council talks Monday night. Alan Vaughn, North Branch, owner of the property in question on Seventh Ave., the former Dintyís Restaurant building, said storm water drainage requirements have not been applied fairly in the city. Vaughn said restrictions placed on his options for removing storm water from the property had not been placed on other business owners in the downtown area. Vaughn had contacted Mayor John Pinsonneault in writing and noted, ìI believe that under the circumstances which presently exist, this council should be afforded the opportunity to correct a situation, which according to City Ordinance, policy, standards of practice and common sense would dictate that the City face up to its obligation to provide a storm water catch basin between my propertyî and an adjacent property. Vaughn said he had been working to resolve the storm water runoff situation for at least two years and that a deadline on secured grant funds for the project would sunset in September were the situation not resolved. Vaughn reportedly had been told by the previous sitting city council that he would have to pay for a direct connection between his property and the cityís storm sewer system ñ across the street from the property in question. Running a line from his property to the sewer line across the street could cost as much as $5,000, Vaughn said. Vaughn said the city had not required other, similarly situated property owners in the city to comply in the same manner. Vaughn said it was in the cityís best interest, both financially and legally, to work with him toward a reasonable agreement on who should pay for the direct-connect storm sewer work ñ or whether the connection should be abandoned altogether in favor of a different water removal system. Mayor Pinsonneault indicated he preferred to get a better handle on the situation and said a sit-down meeting with Vaughn should be arranged. The two parties agreed to sit down and discuss the intricacies of the situation in an effort toward reasonable resolution, and the matter was closed without further debate. The council approved, with Councilwoman Amy Oehlers dissenting, a recommendation from the cityís Economic Development Authority, for the sale of 2.2 acres of property and TIF assistance for Oakview Townhomes, Ltd., for the proposed construction of 24 two and three bedroom homes on a site south of the McDonaldís restaurant and near the AmericInn in the city. The city denied a pay request from Fernwood Developers to cover the costs of a waterline along Falcon Ave. which had been ìoversizedî from an 8î line to a 12î one. Between the additional costs for the line (2,076í at $5/foot), and for two additional fire hydrants ($2,315 per) required in the area, Fernwood had requested reimbursement in the amount of just more than $15,000. It was also reported that Fernwood Developers would have to seek permission from Chisago County for continued work on a walking path along Falcon Ave./CR 68 as there is not sufficient right-of-way along the countyís roadway for the path. Approved was a proposal for a feasibility study into the cityís wastewater treatment facility. The study, approved at a cost of $25,000, is designed to provide the city with insights into long- and short-term needs of the facility and associated costs for necessary improvements. The council took a report from Harley Johnson who said chloride applications on the gravel 400th St. were less than adequate and that the road should be better taken care of. Pinsonneault agreed to look into the situation and thanked Johnson for the input. Dennis Erickson approached the council and said he was unsure why he was paying a storm water sewer surcharge of about $5 a month considering the fact that he has no storm sewer system at his residence on Timberwolf Trail. ìItís something I donít have and I donít really realize why I have to pay for it,î Erickson said. ìTo me, itís not right.î City Engineer Julie Dresel explained that all residents living within the cityís urban service area pay the surcharge to help fund and maintain the sewer system throughout the city. Receiving council approval was the placement of ìchildren at playî signs on Cougar Trail, west of Forest Blvd., per residentsí request there. The concerned residents paid $100 for each of the signs. The council denied a request from Lake State Federal Credit Union officials to waive a transient merchantís license for the credit unionís memberís appreciation day event Aug. 31. The council approved paving work to be done on lots at the cityís maintenance shop and at Northwoods Park, where an 8í wide walking path is also to be surfaced. Also approved was a contract proposal from SafeAssure Consultants, Inc., as the cityís safety watchdog for the coming fiscal year. City Administrator John Moosey said SafeAssure had done an excellent job for the city in the past and that the consultantsí fees were quite reasonable. Moosey said the cost of the contract was a mere ìspeckî when compared to other safety program options for the city. SafeAssureís program, Moosey said, ìreally helped us when we had the OSHA inspection last year.î Deb Dahlberg was approved for probationary hire as the cityís municipal liquor store assistant manager, while Renee Lewis was approved as a new part-time liquor store clerk. Approved were landscaping plantings and replacements at city hall. ©Post Review