County supports sewer extension to Papermakers, Meadowview

In addition, the county board appointed members to a committee, the West Koochiching Area Sanitary Sewer District, to advance the proposal.

Residents of the Meadowview area, located just west of the International Falls city boundary, asked the International Falls City Council in September to consider extending sewer and water services to the residences in that area.

At that time, the council reiterated its policy that city services are only extended to properties within the city limits.

Residents of the Meadowview and Highway 11-71 west area presented to the council two petitions seeking that water and sewer be provided to properties in the area that do not now have those utilities.

Audrey LaBlanc, Kurt Schuschke and Waylon Olson met with the council in September to discuss the requests, which were presented in two different petitions because some properties now have water service.

Some of the residents told the council they were concerned about being annexed into the city because it could bring higher property taxes and the potential for zoning that could change the way they may now use their property.

Councilors explained the policy on providing city services only to city residents was developed because the city does not benefit from the higher property values that result with the added utilities in properties outside the city limits.

However, the city referred the issue to committee and, according to county staff, hired an engineering firm to do a feasibility study to estimate costs of extending water service.

This week, commissioners explained that the city may restrict water service to properties within the city boundaries because it provides the water.

However, they said the city is not involved in efforts to extend sewer service outside the city limits. The North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District handles treatment of the sewer collected by the East Koochiching district and the city of International Falls.

Easement

In other business this week, the county board approved an easement requested by Canadian National Railway that could improve vehicle delays at roads where the rail lines cross.

The board approved the easement on a parcel of tax forfeited county-administrated land along the existing rail line south of Ranier.

The easement will allow CN to establish a live-lift operation, where containers will be off loaded from intermodal rail cars; will be loaded from chassis or ground to intermodal rail cars; and units within the area will be shunted to an existing customs inspection facility on the west side of the tracks.

According to a letter from CN’s lease manager of real estate, Ann M. Nelson, the activities will be performed to remove containers from a train that have been identified by U.S. Customs as requiring further inspection.

CN will pay the county $3,100 for the 100-foot easement.

County Board Chairman Wade Pavleck said he hoped the operation would decrease the wait for vehicles at rail crossings when trains are backed up waiting for inspection.

Jose Sanchez, a consultant for CN, said the action should expedite inspections and alleviate congestion at intersections.

Pavleck also noted that CN’s establishment of a live-life operation has piqued the interest of a developer interested in using nearby space.

Also this week, the board awarded a contract to low bidder Wagner Construction of International Falls for the reconstruction of County State Aid Highway 155.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation earlier rejected Wagner for the project because the company did not meet the necessary percentage of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program participants. This program ensures that when a DBE goal is set for each project, a percent of the funds included in the project are used with DBE firms, including racial and ethnic minorities and women.

The project was rebid, with Wagner again being low bidder and committing to meeting the 7 percent DBE requirement.

That the project will consist of creating two 12-foot blacktop lanes with a paved 10-foot shoulder on each side.

The south end of the project will be aligned and the northern section will be moved west about 50 feet from the existing road. Turn lanes will be provided where needed.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation anticipates reconstructing Highway 11 East in that area to provide for additional turn lanes. An electronic railroad signal with gates will also be provided at the crossing on CSAH 115.