A crew from MSA Professional Services was in Grand Marais last week drilling three more environmental monitoring wells in the area of Wisconsin Street and West First Avenue. The work is being done under the auspices of the MPCA and the Grand Marais City Council would like to know why the testing is being done.
In an effort to find out the reasons for a proliferation of environmental monitoring wells in downtown Grand Marais, city councilors said Dec. 12 that they would like to speak with a representative of the state Pollution Control Agency.
Although the topic has been discussed by council in the past, according to city officials the state agency has never offered an explanation for the need, number and location of the wells being drilled in the city. The wells are being installed by a private firm, MSA Professional Services of Duluth, under the auspices of the MPCA. MSA has recently begun a new round of well-drilling in the area of Wisconsin Street and West First Avenue, which led to council’s most recent discussion.
In a letter sent to affected property owners, the MPCA says the wells are being installed as part of an investigation and/or corrective action “in response to a release of petroleum from a tank(s) owned by Walter Schulte located at 116 W. Highway 61…as part of this investigation it is necessary to perform work on your property.”
The access agreement, which asks for the property owner’s permission to place a well on the targeted site, also states that the MPCA is authorized to take such action under a Minnesota statute.
Julie Carlson, owner of Joynes Ben Franklin Store, the parking lot on West Wisconsin Street and the adjacent old hotel property on West First Avenue, received one of the letters last month asking for permission to allow placement of an above-ground well at the edge of the Joynes parking lot. Carlson told council she refused to sign the letter and asked what councilors knew about the monitoring well project, which she said has been going on for at least 20 years with little or no known result.
Specifically, Carlson asked what is the city’s position on the drilling and testing project; is there a time frame for completion; does the MPCA update the city on its findings and progress; how long do the wells remain in place; and who is responsible for the “remediation” of the area if contaminated soils are found?
As in council’s previous discussion on the matter, there were few answers.
“What’s the purpose of all these wells? Is there any end to it?” asked Councilor Tim Kennedy, who also owns downtown property on which the wells are being drilled, sometimes four in a row within 15 feet of each other. “It’s definitely appropriate that we talk with the MPCA and ask what their plan for all this is.”
City Administrator Mike Roth said he doesn’t believe they have a plan, but observed that MSA has “really ramped up the bores in recent weeks.” In fact, he said, a request was made to install a well on a downtown sidewalk, and he said “no way.” Roth also concurred with Kennedy that the unsightly test wells are seldom removed, and when they are, the job isn’t done cleanly.
Roth said he also wonders about the necessity of the program, since at one time there were gasoline and petroleum distributors all over the downtown district. During the most recent street reconstruction project, recalled Roth, contaminated soil was found under Wisconsin Street and West First Avenue, and that soil was all removed at great expense. Although 90 percent of that remediation was paid for through a federal Petroleum Fund, the city still had to pay a considerable amount. “And obviously, the city didn’t put it [contamination] there,” he said, adding that petroleum contamination wasn’t found anywhere else in the area.
Following the discussion, councilors decided to invite a spokesman from the MPCA to attend a future meeting and explain their plan for the monitoring program. “Let them come and justify their plan,” said Mayor Larry Carlson.
In other news:
. On the recommendation of the planning commission, council granted a variance request from Jeanne Hedstrom to allow construction of an enclosed entryway on her house eight feet within the required 25- foot front yard setback at 817 W. First Street. The addition will improve the harmony and overall look of the property, Hedstrom said in her application. “What currently exists as a front entry is out-of-scale with the house and is peculiar looking,” she wrote.
. In accordance with past practice, 2013 salaries for the city’s non-union supervisory positions were increased 1.5 percent, the same increase granted to union employees in their new contract.
. Council authorized Roth to reinstate the liquor license for Harbor Light Supper Club upon presentation of the required liability insurance documents. The Harbor Light’s license was recently suspended under terms of the City Code, which states that upon insurance cancellation, the liquor license must also be immediately suspended. Council’s action was the most expedient option available—otherwise, council would have had to hold a special meeting or wait until the next regularly scheduled meeting (after Christmas) to reinstate the liquor license. Mayor Carlson said he wanted to see the business get its license back as soon as the insurance matter was cleared up and not make the owners wait until council’s next meeting day.
. Chelsea Luick was hired as a part-time pool attendant.
. No members of the public attended the mandated budget and levy meeting. Council gave its OK to a 2013 budget that includes a proposed levy of $824,152, which is $9,095 more than the current levy, $1,845 less than the 2011 levy, and $42,400 less than the preliminary levy set in September. Overall, the 2013 budget calls for a 1.12 percent increase in the property tax levy rate. Final adoption of the levy and budget is set for Dec. 26.
. Councilor Jan Sivertson reported that she has heard a lot of positive feedback concerning her efforts, expressed at council’s prior meeting, to increase the number of trees in town. “It’s definitely something we should continue to pursue,” she said. Persons interested in assisting with the re-treeing project or joining the currently defunct tree board are asked to contact Sivertson or City Hall.
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