By Clark Natalie

The first meeting of the Harris City Council for the new year dealt with problems both old and new.

In the old category, City Engineer Charles Schwartz of Bonestroo urged the council to take action to begin the preliminary design of the Waste Water Treatment Facility (WWTF), as there are deadlines to be met.

A special work session had been held Wednesday Jan. 4. At that meeting, the different methods of getting the plant designed, built and operational were discussed. Two methods, both which have drawbacks and benefits are available.

The conventional, design/bid/build is the most common. The cityís engineering firm would design the project, put it out for bids to contractors to build, and then construction would begin.

This method would allow for the approval of the design by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency before the June 30 deadline. This is required to obtain the funding already approved by the Public Funding Authority for the $4 million project.

The other method is the design/build, where engineering firms provide bids for a turnkey operation. Different engineering firms work with their construction companies to develop a plan to design and construct the WWTF. Because of the method and timing of this method, Schwartz said the necessary approval of the plans would probably not be obtained by June 30.

Mayor Rick Smisson noted that each plan had other effects. The conventional method had the city engineering firm designing the project. The fee for that design is a percentage of the total cost. Smisson was concerned that the firm could overdesign the facility to increase the benefit to them. The design/build firm had the input of the Aqua Care, an engineering firm that had expressed an interest in building the WWTF at a cost less than conventional, because of the new technology they could use.

Smisson asked the council to approve the request to begin preliminary design, but have city engineers work with Aqua Care to design a facility that would keep the cost down.

Schwartz said that can be done, even though over the long run there would be no advantage to Bonestroo to overbuild the project and ruin their long working relationship with the city.

The council approved the mayorís suggestion. This would allow the city to meet the required open bidding process and still have Aqua Careís input and technology in the design.

A new problem came from the fire department and concerned the safety of the citizens of Harris. The fire department has two pumpers, both that are regularly inspected to meet minimum guidelines.

The pumper used as the primary unit to fight rural fires where water access through hydrants is not available was ìred taggedî and taken out of service on Monday, Jan. 2. The truck had ìlingeringî problems that would cost more to repair than the pumper was worth. Operation Chief Will Lacina had done a search for a replacement unit and found one in Alabama. Lacina and Ground Fire Chief Pat Wortham drove to Alabama to confirm it would meet the departmentís needs. A special emergency session was held Thursday, Jan. 5 to put together a plan to obtain the fire truck and still meet the necessary competitive bid process.

The truck will be leased on a monthly basis from the company. If purchased, all lease payments will go toward the purchase price. The bids for a new pumper will be let Wednesday, and opened on Monday, Jan. 23 at 6:45 pm. The department is working with Henry Fischer of East Central Energy to obtain a grant or low interest loan to fund the purchase. The estimated amount the department is looking for is $240,000.

Two public hearings

There were two public hearings for purposed zoning changes also held. Hill Creek Estates requested that their property be re-zoned from commercial to an R-3 designation, which would allow high density residential development. This was approved with no public or council comment.

Kurt Naumann also requested that his property be rezoned from Agricultural to R-3. During the hearing, Richard Hanson asked the council not to approve the change because it would be spot zoning. No other property contiguous to Naumannís has that designation. Two farms are being bypassed to reach Naumannís with this zoning.
The council tabled the approval to the next meeting.

In other business:

ï During the fire departmentís monthly presentation Mayor Smisson read a prepared statement concerning actions that have taken place at the fire hall since the new officers and operations have been installed. Smisson noted threats to officers, family members and council members. Also acts of vandalism to both the fire hall and the equipment. Personnel files have been moved to the city hall to protect confidential information. No further comments are being made, as there is an ongoing investigation by the Chisago Sheriffís Department.

ï The annual designations were made, as it was the first meeting of the year. Most remained the same with only a couple of notable items. Richard Hanson requested not to be appointed as caretaker or sexton of the Oak Grove Cemetery. He felt the amount of hours necessary to perform this job should have some sort of compensation. He had no interest in doing this task on a voluntary basis.
Also, the Cambridge Star remained the official newspaper, even though the ECM Post Review presented a bid to publish the official notices at $2.75 per column inch. The Starís bid was $8.75. There was no discussion as to why the council accepted the higher bid. After the meeting, Mayor Smisson said the Star is used because it is in everyoneís box.

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