City Administrator Joe Hoffman, at the council’s June 5 meeting, explained why it may be in the public’s interest to adopt a private well ordinance.
The two main concerns are environmental and fairness. City wells serve a lot of people and are tested regularly to assure safe water. In a smaller city like Preston, if a large industrial user were to drill a private well, there would be an impact on citizens in the form of higher water rates.
Hoffman recommended the council consider an ordinance that would limit the drilling of new private wells. It would not affect existing private wells. The Preston Public Utility commission reviewed the draft ordinance and recommended approval of an ordinance to regulate the drilling of new private wells in the city.
The ordinance proposal presented to the council by Hoffman is based on language from the Minnesota Rural Water Association. The drilling of a new private well would not be allowed if there is reasonable access to a city water main, 500 feet or less. A new well can not be installed that withdraws “more than 10,000 gallons of water per day or 1 million gallons per year.”
No action was taken this day. Ordinance language will be brought back for the council’s consideration at a future meeting.
Other business in brief
• The formal process to award work for 2017 sidewalk improvements was completed. Public works director Jim Bakken, during a public hearing, said he personally walks every sidewalk in town and marks those with over an inch deviation. Sidewalks that have been selected for improvements are those that are both in poor condition and in high traffic areas.
Portions of sidewalk will be replaced at 100, 104, and 124 Main St. SW and at 201 and 212 Fillmore St. W. The total cost of the work is $14,389. The city’s portion is $10,815.25. Total assessments for the owners of the five benefiting properties is $3,573.75.
Resolutions were approved ordering plans and specifications and approving plans and specifications and the quote for the work. The work was awarded to Legends Concrete.
• Approval was given for the hire of Hallie Snyder, Lisa Brainard, and Erik Paulson as temporary seasonal employees to fill in on weekends at the Tourism Center. The intention is to keep the Tourism Center open every weekend until October.
• Councilman Robert Maust detailed additional plans for the Historical Elevator that would put it back on the National Registry as it was originally constructed. An addition on the north side of the elevator would require a variance from the 50-foot setback requirement for a museum from a residential area. There will be a public hearing on the variance request on June 14 at the Planning and Zoning meeting. Maust noted approval of the variance is needed for a request for Legacy funds to be submitted before the end of July.
• Mother Nature was in a wet, cold, and windy mood during Trout Days, impacting scheduled events. Hoffman said the rain stopped before the parade, but the tractor pull was not held due to weather conditions. The fireworks show was delayed until Sunday evening. Volunteers will be needed to plan for next year. They are always looking for ways to improve the event.
• The second council meeting in June will be on Wednesday June 14 at 6 p.m. Due to the Fourth of July holiday, the first meeting in July will be held on Wednesday, July 5.
• The Preston Ambulance will host a dinner in appreciation for the volunteer staff on June 21 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be posted as a public meeting.
• Approval was given regarding a loan to Martin Rinnhofer/Urban Artifacts to grant the request of F & M Bank to subordinate the EDA’s second lien position to F & M Bank, moving the EDA to third position as recommended by the EDA.