Mountain Lake City Council reviews city code concerning public nuisances
The Mountain Lake City Council took steps to protect the waters of Mountain Lake during a Monday, April 4 meeting.
Following a presentation by David Bucklin, Great Blue Earth River Basin Alliance (GBERBA) Coordinator and District Technician for Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District, the members approved Bucklin’s request that the city apply for a grant to construct a sediment trap or basin near the outlet of the the creek that flows through Mountain Lake Golf Course, emptying into Mountain Lake, as well as repair the storm sewer outlet channel and plunge pool in Lawcon Park. Bucklin was directed to complete the grant on behalf of the City of Mountain Lake. In addition, they authorized Mountain Lake City Administrator Wendy Meyer to sign the grant application for the city.
The projects are expected to cost $15,000, with 75% paid by the grant. The city’s contribution will be in-kind (labor and equipment) along with funds from the storm sewer budget.
In Bucklin’s presentation, he shared that the Mountain Lake Clean Water Partnership Project (1994-2001) found the golf course stream outlet to be the largest contributor of total sediment and phosphorus to the lake during specific storm events. Over the years, attempts have been made to work with producers with little results.
The sediment trap will provide a continuous benefit and will act as an easily-accessible site to remove stream sediment – before it becomes lake sediment.
A sediment basin is a pond built to capture eroded or disturbed soil that is washed off during rainstorms, and also to protect the water quality of a nearby stream, river, lake or bay. The sediment-laden soil settles in the pond before the runoff is discharged. Bucklin noted that the golf course sediment basin will need to be cleaned out approximately every 10 years.
Plunge pools are small basins that dissipate the velocity of the incoming water and provide stilling, sedimentation, and trapping of gross pollutants.
Following are photos of both the golf course creek and the plunge pool and storm sewer outlet channel:
Review of Mountain Lake City Code concerning public nuisances
The council reviewed the public nuisance process.
The Mountain Lake Police Department presented a list of property owners who have been contacted.
A property owner will appear at the next council meeting to request a waiver.
Properties in violation of the public nuisance ordinance sections of Mountain Lake City Code in 2015, continuing into 2016, were discussed. These properties will receive a criminal citation – and not an administrative citation – if the property owners fail to abate the public nuisances within the 10 days provided by the ordinance.
Also discussed were changes to city code ordinance sections (Section 8.01 and Section 8.03) and one chapter (Chapter 4).
In other business
+ Reviewed and discussed the first quarter 2016 budget revenues, expenses and fund balances. No action was taken.
+ Heard from Mountain Lake Mayor Mike Nelson concerning a conversation he had with Tom Brown regarding the mowing of large city-owned parcels.
+ Noted that the City of Mountain Lake Board of Adjustment and Equalization will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 5.
City of Mountain Lake Meeting Dates
+ Mountain Lake City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Utilities Commission meets the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 a.m.
+ Economic Development Authority (EDA) meets the second Friday of every month at 12 noon.
+ Lake Commission meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Library Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 4:45 p.m.
+ Police Commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
+ Planning and Zoning meets the last Monday of the month, if needed.
+ Tree Commission meets quarterly – January, April, July and October – at 7:45 p.m.
