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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05/30/1989 Special CCMThe Council of the City of Medina met in special session on Tuesday, May 30, 1989 at 7:00 P.M. to discuss the application for disposal of ash at Woodlake Landfill. Present: Mayor, Thomas Anderson; Councilmembers, Wilfred Scherer, Stephen Schmit, Anne Theis, Robert Mitchell (at 7:25 P.M.); Clerk -Treasurer, Donna Roehl; Zoning Administrator, Loren Kohnen; Glen Sanders and Keith Benker of Wenck Associates; Attorney, Ron Batty r i Ron Batty reviewed his memo regarding the meeting that was held on May 24th and the schedule for review of the proposed ash disposal facility at Woodlake Landfill. Glen Sanders explained that the PCA has begun review of the Type I facility and will not have time to review the Type II application before Hennepin County begins operation of the Minneapolis garbage burning plant. Leonard Leuer, Planning Commission member, stated that he has not gotten to talk with Wenck personnel about the issues he had raised at the May 4th meeting. Phil Zietlow, Planning Commission member stated that the Type I schedule will not work unless Medina allows BFI to begin work prior to receipt of final approval. Anne Theis asked if an Environmental Assessment Worksheet had been submitted. Keith Benker stated that non is required for a Type I facility as the PCA believes they have enough information on that type of facility. Anne Theis asked why one is not needed. Keith Benker stated that ash will be removed for a Type I facility. Wilfred scherer asked where either type of facility would be located. Keith Benker stated that Type I facility will be located on Area I of the landfill and Type II will be on Area 4. Leonard Leuer stated that BFI had submitted several parts to their application, all with deficiencies and he did not believe that the city should be designing their facility. Thomas Anderson stated that the issue is about the possibility of BFI doing site work prior to approval of a permit and if so, does this give them license for final approval. Ron Batty stated that BFI could be told that they were proceeding at their own risk of not being given approval. Thomas Anderson asked if the Planning Commission members agreed that if the Type I plan is not approved, then the process for review ends. Leonard Leuer and Phil Zietlow agreed. Thomas Anderson stated that an answer on environmental issues is needed. Resident, Gary Petrucci, asked what will happen to the landfill if the Type I facility is opened, ash put in and then removed. Thomas Anderson stated that the original agreement is still in force. Gary Petrucci asked how the city could enter into an agreement with Hennepin County if they have no jurisdiction over Woodlake landfill. He also explained that the residents do not want the composting facility. Anne Theis asked if Hennepin County had accepted a firm for the composting project. Ron Batty reported that they had delayed action on that decision until August. Stephen Schmit stated that there must be a better place for ash than on the top of this old landfill. Ron Batty stated that this had been discussed at the May 24th meeting. Rollin Smith of Woodlake, stated that Hennepin County is far behind in their schedule and that they had never talked with Metro Council about another location. He explained that the ash would be covered and garbage would not be placed on top; that it is not possible to place Type I ash on a Type II area and that their Type II application far exceeds every- thing that the PCA says that it should and the time that Type I facility can remain on the site is governed by Medina. Stephen Schmit asked how much of the top would be removed. Rollin Smith stated that the site is eight acres; that they would reposition the existing soil to prepare a flat area, berms would be built; there would be a liner and a leachate collection system. d,m Robert Mitchell asked which application BFI wanted the city to review. Rollin Smith stated that the PCA would not be finished with the Type II facility before the burn plant was scheduled to begin operation. Thomas Anderson stated that the city should proceed on some sort of schedule reviewing progress at each meeting. Stephen Schmit stated that the application should be handled like every application that is brought before the city. Thomas Anderson stated that there is a bigger landfill issue to consider. Robert Mitchell stated that everyone agrees that if time was not a problem a review of the Type II facility could proceed without reviewing Type I. Keith Beaker reviewed their recommendations for proceeding. Ron Batty reported that Hennepin County is not currently seeking another site for ash. Medina resident, Donald Voss asked if there was any merit to working through the Type I application and then through the Type II application. Anne Theis stated that if the schedule is followed there will not be time in 1989 to con- struct the facility and if the same schedule is followed in 1990 there would not be time to construct the Type II facility. Rollin Smith explained that review of the Type II application will be worked on simultaneously with the Type I application. Medina resident, Clifford Otten, stated that the city should turn down the Type I application so that they would move on to the Type II review. Anne Theis asked is there would be a contested case on the Type I facility. Rollin Smith stated that Type I is temporary and must be moved and he doubted that it would be contested, but there could be a contested case on the Type II facility. Robert Mitchell asked if the PCA and the city would be looking at the same things in the application. Glen Sanders stated that the city looks at site specific, while the PCA and Metro Council look at the overall picture. Attorney, Greg Korstad stated that the Metro Council is getting away from technical reviews of projects. Rollin Smith stated that what is being proposed as Type II, in Area 4 of the landfill, far exceeds requirements. Anne Theis stated that she wanted some of the concerns expressed by Leonard Leuer and Phil Zietlow, unraveled before the city goes ahead with anything. Stephen Schmit stated that he still wanted to proceed with this application like the city does with every other application. Moved by Mitchell, seconded by Theis to instruct Wenck Associates to focus review on the Type I ash facility for Woodlake Landfill and to report back to Council on June 6th. Motion declared carried Anne Theis stated that the Planning Commission would not be discussing this until their June l3th meeting. Robert Mitchell stated that the application review process is so technical that the Planning Commission should not begin discussing it until it has been thoroughly reviewed by technical consultants. Moved by Scherer, seconded by Mitchell to adjourn. Motion declared carried Meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. Odr7-1,--y=z4L., Clerk -Treasurer Mayor