The city has been working to find a solution to the repair of the dam for more than a decade, but has been hampered by federal historic preservation guidelines. A 2014 Department of Natural Resources inspection of the dam revealed the 1868 hydroelectric structure was degrading more quickly than anticipated. National Inventory of Dams designates it as a Class 1 High-Hazard dam, indicating that failure could likely lead to loss of human life. However, due to age and historic classification, the dam needs to be repaired to specific standards. The 193-foot long dam rises up 34 feet and is the only natural stone arch masonry dam in the Midwest still functioning. It was constructed using Dolomite, milled from the hills around the city, and reconstruction guidelines indicate it must be repaired using natural stone matching the original stone. A boon to the city’s larger tourism appeal, the community has strived to find a solution.
The frustrating process has strained the city as a rural development loan was considered, Federal Emergency Management Agency was hoped for, then denied, and funding in a legislative bonding bill was cut short when the governor vetoed the bill. The lucky break came this year when the $4 million dam project was included in the bonding bill passed during the 2017 special session.
Now, the city has entered into a new agreement with Wisconsin-based engineering firm, Ayers Associates. The agreement terminates an earlier three-party agreement between the city, Ayers Associates, and the US Department of Agriculture.
“We’re trying to be smart about it,” said Lanesboro City Administrator/Clerk Michele Peterson at the Monday, July 3 council meeting. “We will have to look at a few things regarding the channel.” The current plan is to bid out the project in January 2018 and begin construction in the mid-September 2018, when water is naturally at its lowest seasonal point.
“We have to dewater it carefully, through the north side. Risk is greatest when we open it up,” cautioned Pete Haug, project engineer for Ayers. “We’ll breech it on the north side and do the south side work in winter.” Haug assured the council working on the dam in the winter is feasible and safest.
On the south side of the dam, a new dam wall will be constructed behind the original and the original repaired. Once the south side of the dam is repaired, work will shift to the north side. The backslope of the south side will be altered some, cutting into existing campsites above the dam, but allowing for improved water flow. Water will be redirected to the south as the north side is repaired. This includes adding a gate to filter silt before it reaches the bottom channel. The second phase isn’t expected to begin until after spring 2019, to allow to spring flooding past the area.
Concern over the loss of campsites is expected to be remedied by a reorganization of the camping area. Additional concern regarding whether or not the bass ponds will retain water with the dam under construction was also noted. At this time, engineers are unsure.
In other news, the council debated supporting results from a housing feasibility study to be used by the Economic Development Authority to seek out potential vendors.
“Is the council going to support the study? We’ve got to have a yes or no from the city council to either move forward or drop it,” said Councilor Tom Smith.
Mayor Autumn Johnson suggested a more detailed look into what the city wants for housing may need to be considered. “You all know, I didn’t agree with the feasibility study to begin with. That’s no secret. There was a lot of money put towards it.”
Councilor Marge Drake responded, “That’s done now. It’s sitting there, not doing anything.”
“The EDA, as a group, didn’t want to be working on something the council didn’t support. That’s my take away,” added Administrator Peterson. The council unanimously approved supporting the EDA.
The city audit, conducted by Smith Shaefer & Associates, was also approved. It was suggested that the city increase the 31% unassigned general fund reserves to 50% and to continue to monitor the wastewater treatment plant fund.
An informational meeting will be held July 22, at 10 a.m., at the fire hall for the purpose of finding persons interested in serving on the city’s ambulance crew. The crew is down to a historic low for the city and if persons can’t be found, the ambulance could be forced to answer calls as first responder only, then waiting on ambulance service from other communities to transport.
“We’ve discussed options, but we beat a dead horse, pretty much,” said Ambulance Director Deane Benson. He further cautioned loss of service and loss of revenue if interest can’t be drummed up. “Weekends here are huge. We’re not like other towns.”
Currently Emergency Medical Responders and First Responders are required to get 60 hours of training time. For Emergency Medical Technicians that number increases to 140 hours or more. The number of hours for both goes down if volunteers have existing medical training in their repertoire from their workplace, such as nurses. Benson acknowledged that the time commitment is likely a hindrance to finding volunteers willing to serve, but stressed the importance of the service. “The hours are intimidating, but with time, your comfort zone with it comes up.”
Notices of the meeting will be included on upcoming utility bills.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, August 7, at 5:30 p.m., in the lower level of the Lanesboro Community Center. The public is encouraged to attend.
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