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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| 2/18/2010 9:43:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Chisago City Council approves MnWarn agreement; online payment software will be purchased
BY NANCY KRAMER
Correspondent
Another mutual aid agreement, similar to one set in place several months ago for the fire department, was unanimously approved by the Chisago City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting February 9.
MnWarn, the Minnesota Water Agency Response Network, mutual aid agreement allows cities from outside an area impacted by a natural disaster or other emergency situation, to provide personnel, equipment and supplies. Cities participating are then also allowed to provide water, wastewater, and/or storm water utility services when necessary.
Membership to MnWarn is free for the city, but the provision of services must fall under the designated MnWarn requirement guidelines. The city may then respond to situations at its own behest or discretion. In an emergency, MnWarn will match supplies with those best available in the MnWarn system. MnWarn will also supply the coordination of resources through its incident command center.
In January, the city council heard about online registration/rental software called ActiveNet. Since then, staff has also researched another online payment program called RevTrak.
ActiveNet would provide a specific service, such as registration and rental capabilities for Camp Ojiketa and other rental spaces. RevTrak is a more generic software that would be used for online payment of utilities and dog license fees, for example. It would also interface with the city's accounting software.
RevTrak should reduce second billings, late notices and utility cut-offs. It could also reduce NSF check returns, and the use of cash and checks at city hall. It would provide the public with online payments, automated confirmation of payments, and the convenience of paying multiple fees at one time.
The RevTrak program comes at a considerably lower cost than ActiveNet. There would be a 3.5 percent cost for transactions with Visa, but no cost for software, or training of staff.
On the other hand, it would cost the city $3,000 per year for transactions with ActiveNet, and $6,900 for the training of staff. The EDA has approved $1,500 towards the purchase of ActiveNet if the city chooses its software.
Council approved the purchase of RevTrak on Larry Parker's motion, contingent to the approval was the determination of a "break-out" capability to separate a reservation/rental program from the general RevTrak software. Staff will discuss this requirement with Parks Programmer Doris Zacho.
The odor control committee of the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewer Treatment Commission has recommended the biofilter treatment as the best way to control the odors that continue to emanate from the lift station located at Hwy. 8/County 36. City staff has concerns over "treating the bad air versus treating the cause." The chemical treatment now being used would continue to be very expensive, due to the number of gallons of solution required to keep the odors under control. Of the five city council members, only Parker was disgruntled with the choice of a bio-treatment method over a chemical solution. "I get really nervous...it took three years to get to this point. I want to be sure that we're covered. I still prefer the chemical. I don't want odor down there again."
City Administrator John Pechman explained that the approved design flow sheet reflected that at County 36 the maximum flow for Wyoming is 6,420 gal/minute, rather than the 1,200 gal/mn referenced in Wyoming's previous resolution. The 1,200 gallons reflects the flow for the Hwy. 8 force main that is past the County 36 lift station. The revised cost breakdown would reflect the total flow percentages entering the main and show what each city is allowed to place in the line prior to the lift station. The estimated cost for Chisago City would be $39,440 (27.2 percent) and $105,560 for Wyoming (72.8 percent).
In other Council business:
The Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District managers and the Lake Improvement District Board recently met with Lindstrom and Center City officials to discuss an opportunity to have a comprehensive watershed assessment completed.
With the assistance of several grants, as well as monies from the Clean Water Legacy Act, it should be possible to identify storm water projects to improve area water quality.
The SWCD has already received a $12,000 grant and the LID will be asked to match that grant. Council approved Chisago City to contribute to any unfunded costs that the $24,000 assessment does not cover.
The next regular session of the Chisago City Council will be Tuesday, Feb. 23 at City Hall, located on Railroad Avenue.
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