Last winter was one of the coldest on record in Minnesota, with more than 50 days registering sub-zero temperatures.
Because of that frigid weather, many cities had problems with frozen water lines and asked residents to keep their water running to prevent pipes from freezing.
The cities of Clearwater and Clear Lake both followed that plan, and also gave residents credit on their utility bills for all the extra water they used during the freezing emergency in February, March and April.
Tuesday, city councils of both cities met at Clearwater City Hall to discuss the possibility of requesting a refund from the Clearwater-Clear Lake Sewer Authority for the extra water that went into the sewage system.
The issue had been discussed at the last sewer authority meeting in mid-July, but no formal decision had been reached.
Tuesday, Clear Lake Councilman Dale Powers, who proposed the refund in July, said he felt the cities should be reimbursed because the cost should have been less to treat water that wasn’t sewage.
“There is a cost for treating water. I think common sense would say the cost to treat polluted water is more than the cost to treat clear water,” he said. “I can understand and appreciate the fact that water going into the plant doesn’t easily segregate itself into clear water and polluted water. But still, there is less cost to treat clear water, and to the extent we can get reimbursed for that, I think to me, it’s just the right thing to do.”
Clearwater Mayor Pete Edmonson asked whether Clear Lake had looked into what other cities had done in similar situations. He mentioned the Annandale-Maple Lake treatment facility.
“We don’t know if they had the same freezing problem,” Powers said. “And beyond that, I don’t really care what Annandale and Maple Lake did. This stands on its own.”
When asked his opinion, sewer plant operator Tony Strande said he didn’t feel the sewer authority had any obligation to refund anything to the cities.
“Without wishing to offend either side, I don’t see how this is the Sewer Authority’s problem,” he said. “You guys used the service. I think you should pay for it without expecting reimbursement. That’s my stand.”
Strande said the Sewer Authority generates its revenue by charging for water that get treated at the treatment plant.
“But this was a problem with either city’s water department, and in that respect both water departments generate their own revenue,” he said. “My only form of revenue is from the water that comes through my wastewater plant. If you use that service, then you need to pay for it. That’s just my position.”
Edmonson said in July, some of the members at the meeting proposed asking for a refund of the profit the sewer authority made, not the actual cost to treat the water.
“I think that’s fair,” said Clear Lake Council Member Connie Achman. “I understand we have to pay for the service. We did a service to our city residents to help them through a difficult time. We’re more than willing to pay the costs. We’d like to see the profit returned to the city.”
Edmonson asked other members of the Clearwater City Council their opinion.
“I can see the point of paying for the service,” said Councilman Chris Ritzer.
“I’d be curious to see what the profit and loss is for the sewer authority,” said Councilman Kris Crandall. “Assuming we can afford it, I don’t see a problem.”
“We as a council made this decision without consulting the Sewer Authority,” said Councilman Cory Broich. “At the same time, we are paying for that plant. It’s coming out of our pockets one way or another.”
Clear Lake City Clerk Kari Mechtel said Clear Lake residents used an additional 308,690 gallons during the freeze emergency. The sewer authority profit during that period was $2,099.09.
Clearwater used an additional 375,278 gallons and paid the Sewer Authority $2,551.89 to process the sewage.
Neither council made any motion to request reimbursement. Edmonson said Clearwater would discuss it at a regular council meeting, with the possibility of addressing the issue at the next Sewer Authority meeting in October.
