Cliff Buchan
News EditorNo question about it, Bob Holden said last week. He was spoiling for a fight as he walked into Century Junior High School on Feb. 4 to hear Forest Lake officials explain plans for sump pump inspections.
ìItís a fishing expedition,î Holden said, walking into the cafeteria where eight city staff members were on hand to meet with the public to discuss its proposed infiltration/inflow elimination plan.
But an hour later when Holden prepared to leave, the local man said he was satisfied with what the city was proposing. If the city was in agreement that it would accept a signed statement from Holden or his plumber that he doesnít have a sump pump, he has no qualms with the city plan.
ìI can understand they have a problem,î Holden said later. ìA lot of people have water problems.î
City Administrator Chip Robinson this winter proposed the sump pump inspection plan as part of an overall sanitary sewer infiltration and inflow removal effort. A five-component plan will be activated this week to help the city pinpoint where ground water is entering the sanitary sewer system.
Robinson said the city is paying thousands of dollars in treatment fees for the millions of gallons of storm water and ground water incorrectly drained into city sanitary sewers each year.
Come April, the city hopes to launch a home inspection program that will eventually reach every home. The inspections will determine if residential sump pumps are illegally draining into the sanitary sewer system.
Homeowners who have incorrectly connected sump pumps will be required to correct the connection and have the installation reinspected. Homeowners who do not arrange for an inspection or fail to make the proper connection will incur a monthly $100 surcharge until the inspection is allowed and the proper connection is made.
Hackles up
It was the latter concepts that raised Holdenís hackles.
For Holden, one of about 20 citizens to attend the meeting, the cityís plans come close to violating his constitutional rights and eliminate due process in terms of the mandatory surcharge.
ìWe have the issue of search,î Holden said. The mandatory search could violate constitutional protections under the 4th Amendment, he said.
Holden said he had concerns that the city has no direct right to wander through peopleís homes. ìThis is my castle,î Holden said.
Making rules after the fact do not sit well in his book, he said.
ìMy home passed inspection when it was built,î he said.
But after hearing the cityís side at the informational meeting last week, he said he could understand the need to check sump pumps.
When it gets underway this spring, the inspection program will first target lake homes on Forest and Clear lakes. With many of those homes falling in the former township, Holden said the city was treading on a population base that has many residents still suspicious of their new form of government.
As one of those former township residents, Holden said he now believes the city has ìsatisfied us dissidentsî with its sump pump inspection plan. As long as the city is willing to take a signed statement that his home has no sump pump, heís satisfied.
How others will react is something time will tell, he said.
ìPeople are so sick of Big Brother,î Holden said. ìI think they (the city) are alright on this issue.î
Along with home inspections, the city inspection plan will include a look at known or suspected areas of foundation drains, leaking cleanouts and leaking services. The program will also include a manhole inspection and repair program and on going sewer cleaning, televising and repair programs.
The final component of the plan establishes stringent requirements for new sanitary sewer and home construction.
For more information about the plan, call the city at 651-464-3550, option 2, extension 3, visit the cityís website at: www.ci.forest-lake.mn.us, or contact Joan via e-mail at joan@ci.forest-lake.mn.us.
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