SE Council

OKs dredge

purchase

DNR wants details

before permit

would be issued

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Despite not having a Department of Natural Resources dredging permit, the Sleepy Eye City Council approved a resolution by a 4-1 vote Tuesday night to buy the Brown County dredge for $85,000.

Harold Windschitl cast the dissenting vote, saying he opposed the City of Sleepy Eye getting involved in buying a dredge.

Under the resolution, the dredge, currently located near Lake Hanska, would be moved to Sleepy Eye Lake with Brown County paying moving costs. Brown County already earmarked $70,000 in matching funds for project operating expenses.

Lake reclamation consultant Jim Ganske of Sleepy Eye urged the council to buy the dredge and begin the project. Ganske said Sleepy Eye Lake dredging could be done at $1 per cubic foot, which he said was one-third the cost of dredging projects he knew of.

Sleepy Eye Lake Improvement Committee Chairman Wayne Pelzel said the close proximity of the dredge was the driving force behind the project.

Lake committee member Mike Carr promoted the project.

"This is an opportunity to make this happen. If we don't do it now, it'll never happen again. We need to make the lake last as long as we can," Carr said. "Every time we put a dredge in the water, it's been controversial, but something good happened."

Rob Collett, DNR Area Hydrologist, wrote a letter dated March 11 to Sleepy Eye City Manager Mark Kober and St. Cloud attorney Kurt Deter, hired by the City of Sleepy Eye. Collett said DNR efforts to meet project criteria took longer than normal due to a state strike and mild winter weather.

"While great efforts have been put forth to reach a compromise between the DNR and the Sleepy Eye Lake Improvement Committee, at this time, I believe, it is Sleepy Eye Lake and associated public benefits which would be compromised with a dredge project as discussed thus far," Collett said.

Collett said if a dredging project is sought, a detailed proposal must be submitted. The proposal must detail specific areas and depths to be dredged with sediment borings proving depth of suitable materials for dredging.

No applications will be approved that do not limit the dredging footprint. Removing a substantial portion of the mid-lake shallows or dredging in the west (end of the lake) will not meet DNR criteria, Collett said.

An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) must also be completed. A DNR Protected Waters Permit cannot be issued before the EAW process is done. A permit decision will come from reviewing the environmental impacts and benefits against criteria set in Minnesota Rule, Collett said.

In other action, the council passed resolutions:

* Petitioning into Brown County Judicial Ditch 30, following a request by the Judicial Ditch 30 Committee. The city will pay $2,415 for incurred costs since 1956 and 17 percent of maintenance costs between the 9th Avenue S.W. and the sewage ponds.

* Setting the Board of Equalization (taxation hearing) meeting for 7:30 p.m., May 7.

* The city's comprehensive update will be revealed at a special council meeting starting at 7 p.m., Monday, March 25.

A hospital construction project referendum is expected to be included.