Albert Lea Discussion Forum » Printable Version of Topic » 318% TAX INCREASE by Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr

Forum: Current Events
Topic: 318% TAX INCREASE by Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr
started by: alcitizens

Posted by alcitizens on May 23 2015,3:42 am

The City of Albert Lea FLOODS A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FOUR DECADES and now wants to increase the Assessments on that Neighborhood by 318% since 2003.. Are they MAD?

The Albert Lea Water and Sewer funding of this project increased by only 6% since 2003..

In the 1970's due to poor storm sewer infrastructure and flooding on S Broadway, a storm sewer line was ran to the Virginia Place Lift Station overwhelming the pumps and ever since has been flooding that neighborhood ..

2003 Feasibility Report calls for $135,000 in Assessments.. Job was never done..

Flooding is still allowed to continue..

2015 Feasibility Report calls for $429,000 in Assessments..

Still nothing included to address the faulty sized pumps that continue to allow periodic and severe flooding in the Virginia Place neighborhood after 40 years of neglect by the City of Albert Lea..

Sh!t is going to hit the fan if this proposal is allowed to stand without concessions being made by the City..

Public Hearing Tuesday May 26, 2015 7:00pm Regarding The Virginia Place And 5th Street Reconstruction Project (Job 1557)

City Council Chambers at the City Center, 3rd Floor, 221 East Clark Street.

Posted by alcitizens on May 24 2015,12:19 am

Red Storm Sewer line comes from Broadway Ave and then goes to the Virginia Place Lift Station..

Yellow Storm Sewer line comes from the Virginia Place Lift Station and 5th Street and then goes North on Broadway Ave..

Big Red Star shows the beginning of line.. Big Yellow Star shows its from Virginia Pl..

The Broadway storm sewer line going north is in Poor condition and backs up during heavy rain and needs to be replaced according to the Feasibility Report.. The same report says the size of the pipes going to the pumps are fine, the pumps can't keep up with the flows..

The pumps are too small or after the pumps the sewer lines are too small.. I also think the city has continued to increase the volume sent to the pumps.. They are designed to pump 10,400 gallons per minute if working properly.. This City really doesn't have one person that can troubleshoot a lift station.. Call in a contractor..

I sure would like to know about the line that crosses Broadway from the same location and then goes to Front St, then heads West..

My house was built in 1969.. I can't see someone building in a flood prone neighborhood.. Pavement was last done in 1963..

Posted by alcitizens on May 24 2015,4:33 am

I have just figured out where the City has been going wrong for decades and will make it public in front of the City Council on May 26th..

Posted by Self-Banished on May 25 2015,4:30 pm

Will you need bail $$$?

Posted by alcitizens on May 25 2015,8:44 pm

(Self-Banished @ May 25 2015,4:30 pm)

QUOTE

Will you need bail $$$?

The red line is a 27" storm sewer line..

If there is an 18" or larger storm sewer line coming from the 6th St area that drains about 5 blocks and then you add on all the storm sewer on Virginia Place and the Park.. The City is sending more Storm Sewage than the Lift Station was designed to handle at peak times..

I get a kick out of people at the City that say its a soil problem as they send storm sewage at a rate of 100's of thousands of gallons per hour to a little neighborhood.

What does it have to do with the soil? :dunce:

If you keep flooding any neighborhood you'll have soil problems.. Bricks can't float, they sink..

I sure hope not SB..

Posted by Self-Banished on May 25 2015,9:56 pm

Very sincerely, good luck.

Posted by alcitizens on May 25 2015,10:28 pm

Proposal to go before the Albert Lea City Council..

Posted by alcitizens on May 26 2015,11:35 am

(Self-Banished @ May 25 2015,4:30 pm)

QUOTE

Will you need bail $$$?

Just had the Albert Lea Police Department pay me a friendly visit moments ago.. The officer said my email to the mayor was close to being a terroristic threat but also said the potholes are some of the worst he has seen in town..

Maybe now they'll fill'em.. :dunno:

Posted by Expatriate on May 26 2015,11:46 am

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease", you damn terrorist

Posted by Self-Banished on May 26 2015,12:19 pm

Wow, agreeing with Expat
Yep, nothing but a terrorist

Give 'em hell. :cool:

Posted by was1 on May 26 2015,3:21 pm

Wish I could watch.

Ask for an exact breakdown of the assessment calculations and demand (nicely) that it show what changed from the previous numbers.

If you want to throw them for a loop, ask them if their adopted assessment policy meets MN State Statues! (Hint - it doesn't).

And stop getting hung up on your pipe sizes - I already tried to educate you on that. You are on the right track to have the city hire an engineering consultant that has lift station experience to do a full evaluation and hydraulic study for that lift station and all downstream pipes.

What happened to your proposal for the City to buy a bunch of you out and eliminate some of the infrastructure? Long term that may be the best solution for all parties.

Good luck tonight – just don’t Roger Bak it.

Posted by alcitizens on May 26 2015,4:06 pm

My offer of $507,000 for six properties is above fair market value and I can't get all property owners on board for a penny less than the offer..

Thanks for the information and the support.. :thumbsup:

Posted by alcitizens on May 26 2015,8:41 pm

Its Official.. The lift station and storm sewer lines going to Albert Lea Lake will need a full Reconstruction or periodic flooding will continue on S. Virginia Place..

City Council votes 6-0 to Order Project of Virginia Place & 5th Street Reconstruction..

Video coming soon from the May 26th City Council Meeting..

Albert Lea Tribune is silent.. Do you hear the crickets? They have quite the investigative reporters.. :sarcasm:

Posted by alcitizens on May 26 2015,9:41 pm

20.5% of the total cost of the project is currently being assessed to the homeowners..

The City will need to prove that the homeowners will benefit with an increase in market value of 20.5% above the current market value.

Posted by was1 on May 27 2015,7:56 am

Where’s the City been going wrong all these decades?

Are they including a study and upgrades to the lift station now as part of the project?

Did you present your “buyout” plan? If so how did they respond?

Bingo on the market value increase. That’s what I was alluding to. Technically they should have hired independent assessors to review all the properties pre construction to set their market values and then have them come back after the project and assess the new market values. Then the assessment becomes the difference. Very, very few municipalities do it this way. Most do it the way Albert Lea does, come up with a policy and just go with it. And your value wouldn’t need to go up the 20.5%, it’s the dollar amount.

Glad the project is going through, hope the lift station situation gets resolved. Really wish they would have considered the buyout. Think that would have been the best win-win for all and should have been an option addressed early on in the feasibility study.

Posted by Liberal on May 27 2015,12:40 pm

The mayor called the police? What a frickin cowardly thing to do.

What part of letter came close to anything in the law? Or was the cop just being used by the mayor to intimidate you? Not even Jean Eaton would have done that, but Eaton apparently wasn't a complete and total coward.

< https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=609.713 >

Posted by alcitizens on May 27 2015,1:43 pm

(was1 @ May 27 2015,7:56 am)

QUOTE

The City has allowed the area to flood for decades because they refused to admit they have a problem.. It was easier to say its a depressed area in the lowest part of the City with poor soil located in a swamp with an ancient lake bed on the South Side that the Feds paid the City to buy out and relocate to a better area.. Instead of admitting they screwed up and then fix the real problem..

The Lift Station has a 42" plus plus inlet and an 18" force main outlet.. You can't force an apple through a straw..

The system upgrade should go to the front of the line for funding.. ASAP..

No, buyout was not mentioned.. I found a law that only allows purchases by a local government at fair market value..

Yes, if you show no benefit to your market value, you will pay a slim to no assessment.. Its the law..

The Albert Lea Water and Sewer Fund is required to supply an adequate storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water system..

Posted by alcitizens on May 27 2015,2:01 pm

(Liberal @ May 27 2015,12:40 pm)

QUOTE

Get over here and fill these f**king holes you sorry m*th*r f**k..

Better watch your ass bitch.. For now its just a warning.

It is a bit harsh but being an advocate for Albert Lea Citizens sometimes requires screaming in the back yard.. :laugh:

My full name, address and phone number is included in all of my emails..

My options are limited when I'm ignored..

Posted by Liberal on May 27 2015,3:01 pm

LMAO, I don't see it as a threat, it's clearly a warning and even says so in the email.

Posted by alcitizens on May 27 2015,9:46 pm

He definitely didn't watch his a$$ when be called the cops.. He's now getting bad publicity for making that decision..

Posted by was1 on May 28 2015,9:59 am

Calling the cops may have been a little overboard, but we also don't know what else you had in your correspondences. Using that language and that type of name calling is totally out of line however. Was starting to think you were going to do things in a respectable manner but you proved me wrong. Too bad. If I were the mayor, and you did that, I would have called you out on it at the public meeting. Asked if you really thought that was appropriate and then done everything I legally could to stick it to you on the assessments. A little advice, if you’re not happy with how the construction is going either with the contractor or the city folks who will be out inspecting the construction, I highly suggest you not use such tactics. The contractors don’t take kindly to that type of thing on the job sites directed toward them. And if they have any decent working relationship with the inspector, they won’t like it directed toward them. You could find yourself being the last one with their driveway put back in, last one with their yard completed, etc.

Did you find out what year storm event the lift station was designed for and what event it is now operating at? I see from your apple/straw comment you did not understand the hydraulics lesson. How big do you think the pipe is that takes all the sewage from the town out to the treatment plant? Not saying there is nothing wrong with the lift or the downstream pipe sizing, but come on man, stop looking at pipe sizes and thinking that two 12’s have to equal a 24.

Looking forward to following the progress of this project. I’m hoping you keep a running topic here letting everyone know how it’s going. Photos would be great too.

Posted by alcitizens on May 28 2015,4:51 pm

I admit that I lost it but all he needed to do is follow up with an email showing he understands my frustration with a mine field of potholes to drive through everyday.. Instead he continues to ignore me..

I also admit that its more than just the potholes.. I have watched several Albert Lea City Council meetings on youtube and can't believe how rude and disrespectful he is to people that want to speak about their concerns for the City during the public portion of the meeting. Let them speak for a few minutes without being constantly interrupted and told to sit down. He only likes listening to himself and subjects he's interested in.. He is a POS excuse for a Mayor..

I'm done with pipe sizes.. Its now a fact that the entire system is too small for peak loads and has been for the past four decades..

All is going as planned.. Trust Me..

< View on YouTube >

Posted by alcitizens on May 28 2015,5:21 pm

QUOTE

Albert Lea Tribune

Council gives nod to street project
Published 9:44am Thursday, May 28, 2015

Residents still concerned about price, flooding

The Albert Lea City Council on Tuesday voted to move forward with the reconstruction of a portion of Virginia Place and Fifth Street.

The reconstruction includes 1,400 feet on Virginia Place from Fourth Street to Seventh Street and 1,200 feet on Fifth Street from South Broadway to St John Avenue, along with sidewalk and utilities replacement.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the streets are in poor condition and have been on the city’s project list since 2003. He said they have been a challenging project because of high cost.

Cost is estimated at $2.1 million, with 20 percent expected to come from assessments. The remainder is city cost and will be paid for through the sewer or water funds or from local bonding.

Jahnke said the average assessment is $7,275, while the highest is $14,820 per parcel.

During the Tuesday meeting, several people questioned the size of the assessments and whether the project would resolve other flooding issues in the area.

One property owner, Jay Johnson, said he is in favor of the project, but he questioned his assessment because he didn’t think his property value would gain much.

Another proper owner, Troy Christensen, said other than not having to deal with potholes, he does not see what benefit there would be. He said as long as there is periodic flooding in the area, that will lead to continued deterioration of the road.

Jahnke said the project does not resolve the flooding concerns in the area, but that flooding would likely still happen in the event of heavy rains. To solve the problem, the capacity at the lift station in that area would have to be doubled or tripled in size and the storm sewer line on every street from Virginia Place to Albert Lea Lake would have to be reconstructed.

Third Ward Councilor George Marin said he would like to see those issues tackled first and said he does not think it is right to push the costs on residents when the flooding is not fixed.

“Are we putting a lot of money into a project that we’re going to have to rip apart again?” he said. “That’s not a very good thing to do.”

At the same time, he said no one deserves to drive on roads that are in such poor condition.

The vote passed 6-0. Fourth Ward Councilor Reid Olson was absent.

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...project >

Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr didn't want to hear about anything to do with assessments. :dunce:

He said assessments will be discussed at a later date..

Posted by alcitizens on May 29 2015,4:52 am

The storm sewer going north on Broadway Ave. from 5th Street is failing and is in need of replacement.. A bunch of money could be saved if they upgraded that storm sewer to take a major load off of the Virginia Place Lift Station and ending that neighborhoods 40 plus years of flooding..

The South Broadway street paving project this year should be put on HOLD until that storm sewer improvement has been fast tracked and completed..

Posted by alcitizens on May 29 2015,8:15 am

People on Virginia Place want to give a Big Thank You to Al Brooks for getting the potholes filled today.. :notworthy:

Posted by was1 on May 29 2015,9:03 am

Watched some of the video – WOW on the public speaking ability of the City Engineer.

Mayor, any City Councilor, and any City staff should be answering your questions, as long as they were presented in a nice way.

Only going down 3 feet in the peat area? Then just putting down a geotextile fabric and going up with gravel from there? Yeah, you’re going to have some settling issues. Put all that heavy gravel and bituminous on top of peat and it’s going to sink. Maybe not the first year or two but it won’t be long and you’ll have a bad road again.

You need to talk to the State about South Broadway, that’s a Start Highway and all they plan to do is resurface. Does Broadway flood at all? If not, they are not going to even know that their storm water is being diverted to your area and flooding you out. Better give them the heads up.

What did they do for the informational meeting? Looked like to me they did all that during this council meeting, all that is what should have been presented at the informational meeting and then just summarized at the council meeting.

$7,275 for average assessment. Too bad. That sounds like at least double what they were back when they did Frank, James, etc.

Earliest start August 1? Not going to be completed by winter.

How do you move forward with the project without discussing the assessments? If you don’t know how you are going to pay for it (i.e. how the assessments are going to work) how do you approve the project?

Good luck.

Posted by alcitizens on May 30 2015,12:51 am

He might have a little stage fright like myself..

The City Engineer has answered every single question that I asked.. He is an honest person that will tell you the facts about each question and nothing more, which I can respect..

I contacted the State with my concerns about flooding coming from Broadway and the need for a storm sewer upgrade on Broadway and Front..

I have no doubt that the flooding destroys sidewalks, streets and utilities.. Soil liquefaction.. A well packed soil and gravel base with 8" of class 5 with fines for the roadway and 6" for the sidewalks would work just fine.. Drain tile along both sides to keep surface water from getting under the sidewalk and roadway would be a good thing..

Drain tile serves no purpose for the area that is allowed to flood..

In other areas that don't flood and still have issues with settling is due to not having a gravel base from when they were installed..

I have to mention the damage done to the homes that are in the flood zone.. They settle like the roadway does..

Posted by alcitizens on May 30 2015,9:42 pm

The flooding in the neighborhood that starts to come out of the storm drain in the park (circled in red) has taken a toll on 1202 James Ave. (bottom center) over the past 4 decades, it was built in 1890..

This home leans so bad that it looks like its going to fall over..

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 02 2015,9:29 am

The water you see on Frank Ave and Broadway Ave in this video goes to the Virginia Place Lift Station.. Virginia Place had severe flooding on this day in 2013.. The worst was 3 and 4 feet deep..

< View on YouTube >

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 02 2015,12:51 pm

This area was identified as a flooding area in the 70's..

Now we know the City of Albert Lea has been flooding this area..

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 08 2015,7:18 am

QUOTE

Albert Lea Tribune

City wrongfully allowed flooding
Published 9:27am Friday, June 5, 2015

In 1978 the federal government paid the city of Albert Lea to buy out and relocate property owners that live in the South Virginia Place area due to flooding — flooding that was created by the city. Now after nearly 40 years of continued flooding the city of Albert Lea admits the flooding could have been stopped. The lift station located on South Virginia Place continued to have the amount of storm water increased to this location from Broadway Avenue and many other surrounding streets that resulted in the eventual overload. That vulnerability continues to this day when it could have been corrected almost four decades ago. The storm sewer system needs a major upgrade in this area so the fear of flooding and the damage that comes along with it will become only a memory of the past.

Get the city admission from the May 26 City Council meeting. Video can be seen at: < www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGTSGjPQYNc >

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...looding >

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 08 2015,6:02 pm

QUOTE

Thank you for relaying your concern. I just read the article in the Albert Lea Tribune, and based on my limited knowledge of the project (I haven’t seen the plans or project limits), I could see the justification to upgrading the city storm sewer with the reconstruction of Virginia Place and 5th Street.

Unfortunately, MnDOT can not force the City to upgrade their storm sewer system. We do encourage the City of Albert Lea to develop a plan for this system to reduce the potential for flooding. Considering MnDOT makes up a portion of this storm sewer system, MnDOT would likely be a stakeholder for this plan. However, since the City controls the lift station/outlet and a large portion of the system, the City would lead the development of the plan to reduce flooding.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Kris

District Hydraulics Engineer
MnDOT District 6 (SE MN)

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 15 2015,8:52 pm

This is my exact statement before the Freeborn County Board of Appeal and Equalization on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the County Boardroom.

QUOTE

I again want to say that my property value will not benefit from the improvements on Virginia Place by 20%. My house was listed at $45,000 in 2014, I paid $38,900.

If I decided to sell my house, I would be lucky if I could get what the estimated property value is currently, $67,000.

I will have to disclose what the City of Albert Lea said on May 26th. (Flooding will continue until upgrades to the storm sewer and lift station are made.)

At this time I have not heard of any attempt by the City to correct a four decade old flooding problem created by the City of Albert Lea and the Minnesota DOT.

I would hope that the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners will be able to influence the City of Albert Lea to correct this problem.

This problem is not caused by a lake or a river.

Thanks for listening. Do you have any questions?

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 16 2015,8:08 pm

< View on YouTube >

Retention Basins(Pond) should be used to manage storm water more often.. Half of this lot would be a perfect location to store storm water tempoarily that starts to backup in the storm sewer at a fraction of the cost to replace the entire storm sewer system. This is 822 S Broadway..

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 17 2015,2:10 am

Dry Extended Detention Pond (Not even close to $20,000,000.00)

Cost Considerations

Dry extended detention ponds are the least expensive stormwater treatment practice, on a cost per unit area treated. The construction costs associated with these facilities range considerably. One recent study evaluated the cost of all pond systems. Adjusting for inflation, the cost of dry extended detention ponds can be estimated with the equation:

C = 12.4V0.760

Where:

C = Construction, Design and Permitting Cost
V = Volume needed to control the 10-year storm (cubic feet)
Using this equation, a typical construction costs are:
$ 41,600 for a 1 acre-foot pond
$ 239,000 for a 10 acre-foot pond
$ 1,380,000 for a 100 acre-foot pond

Interestingly, these costs are generally slightly higher than the cost of wet ponds on a cost per total volume basis. Dry extended detention ponds are generally less expensive on a given site, however, because they are usually smaller than a wet pond design for the same site.

Ponds do not consume a large area compared to the total area treated (typically 2-3% of the contributing drainage area). It is important to note, however, that each pond is generally large. Other practices, such as filters or swales, may be "squeezed in" in relatively unusable land, but ponds need a relatively large continuous area.

For ponds, the annual cost of routine maintenance is typically estimated at about 3 to 5% of the construction cost. Alternatively, a community can estimate the cost of the maintenance activities outlined in the maintenance section. Finally, ponds are long-lived facilities (typically longer than 20 years). Thus, the initial investment into ponds systems may be spread over a relatively long time period.

< http://www.richlandtownship.org/stormwater/RutgersPowerPoint.pdf >

< from [URL=https://vimeo.com/greentreks]Vimeo >.

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 17 2015,3:53 am

Another perfect location for a Detention Pond.. 1018 S Broadway..

Southtown Liquor..

The City of Albert Lea can't keep saying its unaffordable to stop the flooding when there has always been affordable options available..

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 17 2015,10:19 pm

Flooding on Virginia Place today..

Posted by was1 on Jun. 18 2015,10:53 am

How much rain and over what duration? Looks like a number of locations flooded briefly.

You should be going to every council meeting bringing up the storm water issues. Present your thoughts on retention areas, and demand the City make upgrading the lift station and outlet piping a priority. Or that they buy you all out at fair market value plus moving expenses.

I question some of the retention areas you presented. Does the city currently own all that property? What drainage area contributes to these locations? Is it a big enough contributing area to improve your flooding situation? Or would the money spent for those areas be better put into upgrading the outflow areas and pumps?

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 18 2015,2:59 pm

.58 inch in one hour on June 17, 2015..

The Mayor told me that it would cost $20 million dollars to correct the flooding issues in the area.. This is the reason I am showing low cost alternatives since he says the City can't afford it..

The properties would need to be purchased by the City..

Those retention ponds would be used just before the storm sewer going north on Broadway begins to backup.. The one at Southtown Liquor would support 822 Broadway retention pond.. Both would delay storm water from re-entering back into the storm sewer and eliminate all the original runoff created by those two locations..

The Broadway road surface would only be disturbed for an overflow and return sewer lines going to and from the retention ponds which would result in a fraction of the cost compared to replacing everything.. Its a Win, Win, Win situation..

< View on YouTube >

The properties being flooded at the beginning of this video are the same properties owned by the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Albert Lea in the picture below.

Posted by irisheyes on Jun. 20 2015,3:54 pm

I drove down Virginia Place last week, even slowing down to 10 mph was too hard on the car. It's like the Oak Park Mall parking lot, so many potholes you'll steer away from one only to hit another.

I've gotten the impression that there are some on the council that don't want to invest in infrastructure at all, only "beautification" or walkability projects. I'm all for being "green", but we still need adequate roads, plumbing, and flood mitigation in those neighborhoods.

IMO, if it's not part of the Blue Zones, it won't get done. Sad, but true.

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 21 2015,7:57 pm

(irisheyes @ Jun. 20 2015,3:54 pm)

QUOTE

QUOTE

Albert Lea Tribune

Paving over our city’s problems?

Published 9:33am Friday, June 19, 2015

Rain showers on Wednesday afternoon interrupted the downtown Wind Down Wednesday activities. At about 6 p.m. Albert Lea experienced 1.61 inches of rain over a 45-minute period, sending vendors scattering. Five blocks away on South Broadway Avenue the rain produced a more disturbing effect for motorists and local businesses. While this brief downpour may have only been moderate, it was enough to cause flooding that covered all of South Broadway, Fifth Street, Newton and Virginia avenues.

Motorists on South Broadway encountered water deep enough to stall cars, which is a routine occurrence in this area. The flood frequently takes motorists by surprise as they attempt to drive through waters far deeper than they appear.

The problem stems from antiquated city storm drains that have no slope and thus retain standing flood water for most of the length of South Broadway. These storm drains quickly back up in heavy rains and in turn flood the storm drains going to Newton and Virginia avenues, thus creating flooding throughout the neighborhood.

Unfortunately Albert Lea and MnDOT are about to embark on a multi-million dollar pavement overlay project that will beautify the streets and sidewalks while focusing on many aesthetic improvements around the Freeborn County building. Yet, unfortunately, none of these surface improvements will address the perpetual flooding issues faced by many business owners and residents on the south side of the city. The ancient storm drains along South Broadway will not be replaced as part of this project, thus ensuring floods for many years to come. Instead, the city has decided to focus its underground drain replacement efforts on the downtown area, leaving many on the south side standing in water.

These flooding episodes stretch back many years and occur on average four to six times every year. The flooding on Wednesday resulted from a moderate rain, and heavier rain events have produced even more dramatic results in the past. In addition to property damage and frustrated stranded motorists, the flooding represents a safety risk on one of Albert Lea’s busiest roadways in and out of town to emergency vehicles and many others.

To the business owners on South Broadway, economic development means much more than a pavement overlay and decorative brick work on the streets near the Freeborn County courthouse.

Rather, it means repairing years of decay and neglect to city storm drains, without which there can be no business development.

Karl Milliron

Albert Lea

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...roblems >

Posted by was1 on Jun. 23 2015,11:01 am

Request a copy of the feasibilty study done for the storm water improvements to correct the flooding. I do not believe the $20M mayor told you. Many, many ways of doing things to reduce that cost.

I would love to see where the current lift station pumps to and the entire downstream route. I bet I can come up with a low cost solution in 15 minutes for a low cost route for additional downstream capacity.

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 30 2015,6:25 pm

Albert Lea Evening Tribune June 15, 1978

Page 1

Flash Flooding..

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 30 2015,6:30 pm

Albert Lea Evening Tribune June 15, 1978

Page 2

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 30 2015,6:43 pm

Albert Lea Evening Tribune June 16, 1978

Power outage at Lift Station..

In 1978 City Manager Sparks says it will take $1 million to correct the flooding. It would be cheaper to buy all the houses.
They didn't accomplish fixing the problem or buying all the houses.. :dunce:

Mayor Vern Rasmussen just told me this month that it would take $20 million.. :crazy:

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 30 2015,6:51 pm

Albert Lea Evening Tribune June 18, 1978

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 30 2015,7:11 pm

Albert Lea Evening Tribune June 20, 1978

In 1978 City Manager Sparks says the City doesn't have the funds to correct the problem. :dunce:

Mayor Vern Rasmussen just told me the same thing this month.. :dunce:

Posted by alcitizens on Jun. 30 2015,7:18 pm

Albert Lea Evening Tribune June 27, 1978

Flood Victim, "City Slow with Help"..

37 years is beyond slow.. Sorry bastards..

Its likely that the City has allowed this neighborhood to continue to flood since 1946..

Time is up Albert Lea Water and Sewer, you people are responsible for adequate storm water removal..

Posted by grassman on Jun. 30 2015,8:23 pm

Hey, I remember Dave!

Posted by Botto 82 on Jul. 01 2015,12:59 am

(irisheyes @ Jun. 20 2015,3:54 pm)

QUOTE

IMO, if it's not part of the Blue Zones, it won't get done. Sad, but true.

Kehr-PLOP! :rofl:

And Ol' Sparky. Still playing fast and loose, even back then. :rofl:

That place is like Centralia, Pennsylvania, but without the fire. :flame:

Get out of that 'hood while you can. They didn't have any interest in fixing the problem in '78, back when the local economy was relatively good. What makes you think they'll be able to do anything now?

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 02 2015,5:25 pm

(was1 @ Jun. 23 2015,11:01 am)

QUOTE

Albert Lea City Council 1978..

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 06 2015,5:22 am

(was1 @ Jun. 23 2015,11:01 am)

QUOTE

I would love to see where the current lift station pumps to and the entire downstream route. I bet I can come up with a low cost solution in 15 minutes for a low cost route for additional downstream capacity.

The stormwater leaves the lift station in a 18” forcemain that runs east on 7th Street. It switches to gravity sewer and eventually ends up in a 54” storm sewer which outlets to Albert Lea Lake between 9th and 10th street.

Service Road..

Posted by was1 on Jul. 07 2015,7:42 am

Replace/up the pumps at the lift station and add a secondary outlet pipe. Directional drill the new outlet pipe from the lift to 7th and then east under 7th to Frank Hall then north in Frank Hall to the existing outlet into the lake. Approximately 8 blocks of a directionally drilled pipe. Total guess but a 12" HDPE may be enough to releive a good portion of the flooding when used in conjuction with the existing system.

Say each block is 400 feet long so you will have 3,200 feet +/- of 12" driectionally drilled HDPE. I would say a good ball park estimate is $100/ft to do that work so you are looking at $320,000. Even if you double that you are at a pretty cheap remedy.

$20 M?

Mayor must be planning on totally reconstructing all roads and utilities along whatever route they are looking at using.

Hope you can talk to Minnow, or the Mayor, or Jahnke about this and get something moving to help out the flooding.

Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 07 2015,10:45 pm

Back a few years when there were some real rainy seasons. The level of the lake where your pumping station is destined would rise to such a level that the storms drains were ineffectual.

So you had water just sitting backing up onto locales like. . . Newton and Front. It got real stinky. And took a while for it to finally recede. It didn't help the car wash that was there for a brief time I'm sure.

So say you get this extra lift capacity. Does the outlet sit high enough to make the pumping successful? And If the lower ones downstream are underwater aren't you just adding to flooding someplace else?

I have read the new dam at Albert Lea lake could be lowered to draw down the lake. Which some said on this forum couldn't be done. Maybe they meant in a fast flood control fashion.

The lakes have been fairly high recently. And I have wondered about that capability.

But I think given the history of all the flooding prone areas. Your retaining pond suggestions AND buyouts of houses in some areas is a good idea.

I think they, the ponds, could also serve a second purpose of creating scenic beauty as well. And kind of take the harshness and blighted levels down a but in some areas.

Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 07 2015,10:50 pm

In Regard to retention ponds:

I noticed sandbags around the storm drains on Main and Washington today.

Perhaps Morin park should be allowed to back to Morin Lake. heh

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 12 2015,6:01 am

QUOTE

LIKE!

I agree that it could be done for no more than a million dollars.. $320,000 to $1.5 million.. :clap:

The Milo lift station just cost $127,000..

I came up with $618,000 for this route below and it will be completely new .. Then I added an Emergency Backup Generator and pilings from Virginia Place to James Ave, then the street resurfacing..

Flooding could be eliminated for MN Hwy 65 (Broadway Ave S), Newton Ave, Virginia Place and Frank Ave for less than $1.5 million dollars..

< http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe...Entry=1 >

24 inch Force main from Virginia Pl to St Joseph Ave on 6th St and then Gravity Storm Sewer from St Joseph Ave to Albert Lea Lake.. No need for reconstruction of 6th St since there is no storm drains on 6th St that would affect the run.. A little mill and overlay..

Emergency Generator included..

Cheap improvement that should have been done 40 years ago..

Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr is nothing less than a complete moron for saying it would cost $20 million to correct the flooding..

He says that you can't do something that benefits just one area.. :dunce:

God I hate stupid..

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 13 2015,6:03 am

(hymiebravo @ Jul. 07 2015,10:45 pm)

QUOTE

But I think given the history of all the flooding prone areas. Your retaining pond suggestions AND buyouts of houses in some areas is a good idea.

I think they, the ponds, could also serve a second purpose of creating scenic beauty as well. And kind of take the harshness and blighted levels down a but in some areas.

I agree Hymie, I told the Mayor that its time to start buying some real estate.. :thumbsup:

Virginia Place flooded 5 times in 2013, 2 times in 2014 and twice already this year..

There is a resident on the 1200 block of Virginia Place that had their homeowners insurance deductible raised to $2500 because of all the flooding claims..

100 year flood plain is a joke on Virginia Pl in Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007.. Its an Annual Flood Plain that is not caused by a lake or a river, only neglect by the City..

Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr and Al "Minnow" Brooks have an opportunity to improve their legacy before their term is over.. Just Stop the Flooding..

Force Main on pilings should be roughed in during the Reconstruction of Virginia Place so the street wouldn't have to be tore up when the City finally does their job..

Honorable Mention to was1 for the effort to improve the City of Albert Lea for everyone..

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 13 2015,7:36 am

(Botto 82 @ Jul. 01 2015,12:59 am)

QUOTE

(irisheyes @ Jun. 20 2015,3:54 pm)

QUOTE

IMO, if it's not part of the Blue Zones, it won't get done. Sad, but true.

Kehr-PLOP! :rofl:

And Ol' Sparky. Still playing fast and loose, even back then. :rofl:

That place is like Centralia, Pennsylvania, but without the fire. :flame:

Interest rates were like 13% to 15% back in 1978..

Cash is cheap today at 4% to 5%.. Now is the time to make infrastructure improvements..

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 13 2015,10:46 pm

A Detention Pond near Virginia Place is to be part of next year's budget with leftover Shell Rock Watershed Funds with the approval of Freeborn County and the City of Albert Lea..

Its a good start and I couldn't be more happy of the possibilities ahead..

Thank you to the Freeborn County Board of Commissioner's for their influence and also to the City Engineer.. :notworthy:

< View on YouTube >

Posted by was1 on Jul. 16 2015,11:34 am

Where will proposed ponds go? Who is designing them? I hope they do some feasibility studies on this to see if they will make enough of a difference for the residents in this area or if the cash will be best utilized for lift station upgrades and, as we’ve proposed, an additional outlet force main to the lake.

Keep the pressure on the council and mayor so an actual fix happens instead of another band aid. And keep questioning the $ #’s they seem to just throw out to the public to squash anything that they don’t want to do. I really get tired of politicians squashing projects that need to happen to improve failed infrastructure by throwing out dollar amounts that are made up and greatly inflated so they can then spend the money on their sexier pet projects.

Our (USA) whole political system is broken from the top all the way down to little old Albert Lea. We need more citizens getting involved and staying after the elected “leaders” to do what is necessary and what is right, even if they don’t want to because it won’t “win them any votes”.

What’s the status of the Virginia Place project now? Out to bid yet?

Posted by grassman on Jul. 16 2015,2:54 pm

Amen to that! Kind of like our little town council bought a piece of property for double it's value so that a club could use it for 3 days a year. :blush:

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 16 2015,2:54 pm

(was1 @ Jul. 16 2015,11:34 am)

QUOTE

Virginia Pl and 5th St Reconstruction Project will begin August 1st..

Subject starts at the 37:45 mark in the video below at the Monday July 13th City Council Meeting..

Its funny that you described much of the City Council Meeting in a few words.. :laugh:

< View on YouTube >

Open communication continues with the County and the City..

This is the email that I sent to 12 County and City Officials on Tuesday July 14th:

Subject: Just to Clarify

Hi,

First, I didn't say a 12" force main, I said 24" force main.. Second, I never mentioned replacing the lift station, current pumps equal 10,000 GPM and will need a retrofit with pumps that equal 18,000 GPM. Third, I've never heard of a force main that runs from manhole to manhole. A force main is continuous until it either dumps into a gravity storm sewer or reaches its destination.

< EPA Lift Station >

My figure of $1.5 million for the 6th St force main plan comes from the EPA plus 75% for inflation, pump retrofit, backup power system and increasing the Virginia Place 42" line to 54" at the lift station.(Should be done during reconstruction)

< EPA >

6th St Plan

Force main from Virginia Place to St Joseph Ave on 6th St and then Gravity Storm Sewer from St Joseph Ave to Albert Lea Lake..

Its a straight run without having to reconstruct 6th St because the incline continues to St. Joseph and 6th St doesn't have any storm drains to connect to.. The only connection would be at 7th St on Frank Hall prior to dumping into the lake..

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) leaves the majority of 6th St intact because the line would be bored in below all of the existing infrastructure.

< Horizontal Drilling (HDD) >

This would eliminate all flooding from K&K Bakery on Broadway, East to Albert Lea Lake.

Thank you,

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 16 2015,5:45 pm

The Video posted above on the subject reminds me of a post I made on May 27th:

The City has allowed the area to flood for decades because they refused to admit they have a problem.. It was easier to say its a depressed area in the lowest part of the City with poor soil located in a swamp with an ancient lake bed on the South Side that the Feds paid the City to buy out and relocate to a better area.. Instead of admitting they screwed up and then fix the real problem..

Posted by was1 on Jul. 17 2015,7:57 am

“You can’t have a 3,000 foot line with no way of getting into it”. What is Jahnke talking about? It’s a force main where the storm water is going through a pump system before it is discharged into the new pipe. There should be nothing of any size passing through the pump system into the force main that would cause any plugging issues. I hope he really is going to get an actual cost to bore the 24” line. I see no way it is “$4M to $10M” like he said.

He really better have a complete hydraulic study done for the entire drainage area. He really should not be sitting in a council meeting saying that just putting in a storm water pond on the west side of the tracks would fix the flooding.

Never use to like George, but seems like he is the only one who gets it. Why are spending all the $ on the project if we aren’t fixing the flooding problem? Keep on it George.

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 17 2015,6:18 pm

(was1 @ Jul. 17 2015,7:57 am)

QUOTE

I've read article's that describe storm water force main's going a mile or two under constant pressure, they're like an over sized fire hose..

I admit the performance by the City Engineer in the video above was deceptive and dishonest in so many ways..

Now did you notice that he said Virginia Place had a good street for 20 to 30 years before it started falling apart?

Well, between 1953 and 1956 South Virginia Place got City Water, Sewer, Curb and Gutter and a Street.. In 1978 South Virginia Place was Flooded and designated a Flooding Area..
This is 25 to 28 years after the street was installed..
Proof that Flooding that was Caused by the City of Albert Lea Destroyed the Street and the Infrastructure, NOT the frikin soil or location.. :deadhorse:

2015 Feasibility Report

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 17 2015,6:28 pm

2015 Feasibility Report

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 17 2015,7:07 pm

The 2015 Feasibility Report shows no history of flooding until 1978 when houses were purchased..

The City Manager said at the 45:25 mark in the video above that since we are not in a Flood Plain that we would not have qualified for Federal Grants..

My written request to the City of Albert Lea for any and all records pertaining to federal funds to buyout property owners in 1978 proved to be fruitless.. None were found by the City of Albert Lea or Freeborn County..

Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 17 2015,9:53 pm

I was amazed how well the concrete has appeared to have held up in some of your photos. The sidewalks is lifted but not cracked. Who ever put that in must have had access to that ancient Roman concrete recipe and materials.
< http://www.history.com/news/the-secrets-of-ancient-roman-concrete >

From listening to that meeting and looking around at some rebuilt streets sidewalks and gutters. They really do seem to only last about as long as the assessment takes to be paid off. heh. They're refurbished in that time span as well. Snow plows and the weather are tough on it all. And certainly accelerates the ultimate demise of it all.

You won't ever see the longevity of the past, in anything new today. IMO

Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 17 2015,10:08 pm

You have to tip your cap to all those people that get up and talk before the council. It looks pretty intimidating. Just one person up against a group of people.

I don't get the fuss over Virginia and the lift station. What are there. . . four houses there?

Go over to Austin and look at all the houses they removed due to flooding. It's like 4-5 entire neighborhoods. Blocks and blocks of houses.

And you guys are fussing over that little piece?

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 19 2015,10:18 pm

The City says my street has a 15 year warranty and if it starts falling apart within those 15 years that the City will cover the cost to fix it..

Every property owner in Albert Lea will pay once again to fix Virginia Place as long as they allow it to flood.. The question is WHEN will they fix the damage..

Its been 52 years since my section of Virginia Place has been paved and its a proven fact that the City is responsible for the flooding that destroyed it in the first place..

We know the flooding will destroy the south end of Virginia Place quickly, the question is how many decades will it take for the City to honor the WARRANTY??..

Is there a warranty to protect the houses of homeowners on South Virginia Place from continued damage caused by the neglect of the City?

Answer: Hell No..

Posted by was1 on Jul. 24 2015,7:55 am

My guess is the pavement was falling apart long before the flooding in the 70's. Back in the day they only put about 6" of class 5 down and about 2" of bituminous on that for the driving surface. That will not hold up for long. I saw streets in Albert Lea that looked very similar and had not been flooded.

However, not taking care of the known flooding that does now occur, will damage the pavement structure and accelerate the deterioration of it. I’m really sorry to see they are going ahead with the project sans correcting the flooding at the same time.

There are a few other places in town that do also flood, as was mentioned by others. City really should look at reverting some of those low areas back to ponding areas. There are old photos and maps in City Hall that show things like Morin Lake and a few other places in town that should have never been filled and developed.

I was interested in what Jahnke said about some of the piping staying in place and others being pipe burst. From what I read, there are many sags in the sanitary line, pipe bursting them and pulling a new pipe through will not address the sags if they are very substantial.

Here’s another thought/option. Add some oversized storm lines in the area, even put them under the park area, to be used as some additional storage area. They do this for storm water retention in areas that do not have enough space for ponds in developments. You could run a bunch of low cost, CMP under the park. Won’t solve but would reduce the frequency and extent of the flooding that does occur.

Good luck.

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 24 2015,8:16 pm

How much to perform Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) down 6th St?

$4 to $20 Million?? :crazy:

City Engineer Jahnke said at the beginning of last week that the Driller will give a ballpark cost for such a project hopefully by the end of last week..

Still Nothing..

I want a copy of the Drillers estimate..

Posted by hymiebravo on Jul. 26 2015,2:46 pm

You get a couple of relatively mild rain seasons and the flood mitigation talk, sort of evaporates it seems.

It's a rather daunting task in Albert lea though.

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 27 2015,6:49 am

(was1 @ Jul. 24 2015,7:55 am)

QUOTE

Financing by the City is limited each year for projects based on how much income the City can collect in taxes..

Some areas of the City are privileged and get funding before others.. The more they improve home values on the privileged side of town, the rest get less and that reduces the value of their homes..

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer..

Force mains are cheaper to install than gravity storm systems.. Some areas in low areas don't have a choice other than a force main or detention ponds, possibly both..

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 27 2015,4:00 pm

I just heard from the City of Albert Lea that an upgraded Lift Station and a Force Main going to Albert Lea Lake would not cost $20 million or $10 million, not even $4 million..

To Stop the flooding at South Broadway Ave, Newton Ave, James Ave, Frank Ave and Virginia Place area would cost only $2.1 million dollars..

Its time for the Albert Lea Water and Sewer Fund to fulfill their obligation to provide an adequate storm sewer system to all of the residents in Albert Lea..

Posted by alcitizens on Jul. 27 2015,9:30 pm

I can't find a single incident on the internet of a storm sewer force main becoming plugged..

Chances are they never will plug..

Posted by was1 on Aug. 05 2015,9:09 am

What? City leaders throwing out $ figures that are 10 times more than actual? I can't believe it. It's still more than I thought, but it is a bigger diameter line than what I did a quick back of the envelope on.

$2.1M to at least greatly reduce the occurance of flooding in that area and all the other costs that occur with it (quicker degradation of the road, reduced property values, potential injuries and damages and claims due to flooding) all seems like a win-win to just get this done ASAP. There is NO excuse that $2.1M is too much to fix this. Just think what correcting this problem will do for the property values in this area.

I hope you will be getting an appology from the Mayor and City Engineer for their grossly over estimated cost for the correction, they should be ashamed and embarressed by what they public said it would cost to fix. Then, after their appology, they better announce that they have already begun the design for this work and have moved this project to the top of the list and it will be started this fall or no later than first thing next spring.

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 08 2015,8:40 am

(was1 @ Aug. 05 2015,9:09 am)

QUOTE

An additional 300,000 gallons or 1100 Tons of storm water per hour going to Albert Lea Lake instead of being allowed to flood multiple neighborhoods and the South Broadway Business District..
The entire City of Albert Lea would benefit from this much overdue improvement for about $2 million.. :thumbsup:

I don't need an apology from anyone.. We all know where the false information was coming from and that it has involved more than just the current people at the City level.. This story goes way back to City Manager Sparks and staff in 1978..

I would like City Officials to correct the flooding around the Virginia Place Lift Station that has been allowed to continue for nearly 40 years by the City of Albert Lea..

Thank you was1.. :beer:

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 08 2015,6:49 pm

Email from the $20 Million Dollar Man, Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr.

Mayor
Jun 16

to me
Thanks **** for your continued interest in this project.

We continue to state that the project will not solve the flooding problem that occurs during very heavy rain events. MNDOT has taken steps to ensure that the mill and overlay does not make the problem worse and they are raising the curbs some which may allow for more water storage in the roadway during heavy rain events. However the improvements from this are anticipated to be very minor.

The broken sanitary line Steve was referring to at the council meeting is the service line into K&K Bakery. Steve has also asked Sorensen Brothers for a quote to replace the sanitary sewer trunk line in South Broadway. This line operates fine but has a sag in it at the bar. If we replace the line now it should ensure we do not have to rip the road up again after the project is complete.

Hope this answers your concerns. I know that you probably don’t agree with the situation but we will try to make what improvements we can to help the situation. The real answer is estimated to be approximately 20 million dollars to fix and it is not in the budget at this time.

************************************************************

QUOTE

ENGINEERING FACT: Approximately $2 million to fix, not $20 million..

Al "Minnow" Brooks, Please notify the City Manager for staff approval to correct 40 years of flooding with plan from the City Engineer and funded by the Albert Lea Water and Sewer Fund.. Thank You

100 of these per hour instead of 66.. Elimination of severe flooding..

Posted by Botto 82 on Aug. 08 2015,7:42 pm

(hymiebravo @ Jul. 17 2015,10:08 pm)

QUOTE

I don't get the fuss over Virginia and the lift station. What are there. . . four houses there?

Go over to Austin and look at all the houses they removed due to flooding. It's like 4-5 entire neighborhoods. Blocks and blocks of houses.

And you guys are fussing over that little piece?

Answer the question.

Posted by was1 on Aug. 10 2015,10:12 am

Sounds like to me Austin had a problem, recognized it, and acknowledged that they had a responsibility to correct it, and it so by purchasing the properties and removing the people from the flood area. Contrarily, Albert Lea has a problem, recognized it, did a little 30 years ago to try and mitigate it (purchased some of the properties), and has since refused to make the necessary corrections/improvements to greatly reduce the flooding occurrences and assist the homes that are still there being flooded and having their value suppressed. Additionally, Albert Lea has lied for many years about the cost to make corrections. Okay, lied may be a harsh word. At a minimum, they have been too lazy to look into all options to make the correction. A total reconstruction of all the streets that would be along the path of a new, correctly sized, storm water force main from the lift station, is not needed. The City should not have been going by what was looked at in the late 1970’s as what would need to be done. Sorry but construction technology has changed in the last 30 years.

Benefits of spending this $2M and greatly reducing the occurrence of flooding include: reduced damage to private property, reduced damage to the City’s infrastructure, reduced inconvenience for traveling public from no longer having the roads in this area flooded out, reduce City costs for repairs of flood damage, reduced City costs for not having to send crews up to barricade off flooded streets. This will also increase the property values in the area since the flooding risk will be greatly reduced, which will in turn generate more tax revenue for the City. It should also eliminate any flood insurance need and possibly reduce current properties insurance premiums since the risk would be greatly reduced.

And whatever the State is going to do with curbing and paving on South Broadway is going to do next to nothing to reduce flooding in the area. All it’s going to do is provide for some additional storage area within the street for the storm water. So, what’s that going to do? Just prolong the time that water floods South Broadway. The piping from there to the lift is not going to change so the volume and time for that volume to move is not changing. And the lift station is not being changed so it can still only pump so much water at a time.

Albert Lea Mayor and City Council needs to do what is right for once and spend the $ to fix this actual problem. How much benefit did the residents of Albert Lea get from the new street lights and what did they cost? How about the added cost spent on the bridge on Lakeview to have the decorative faux rocks? How about how much did they spend on the “Study” to try and get rid of the park and rec director? All things which added no value to the residents corrected no infrastructure problems and added ZERO to property values.

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 10 2015,5:00 pm

QUOTE

The city of Albert Lea is looking to acquire land near their public works building on Commercial Street to increase the amount of space and efficiency currently located at the shop, Albert Lea city manager Chad Adams said Thursday night

The project, titled Phase I in a planned, two phase project, is expected to cost approximately $2 million. The funds are planned to come from the city’s general fund budget reserve, the water fund and sewer fund. Taxes wouldn’t be raised, according to Adams.

Phase II is expected to cost approximately $8.6 million.

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...uilding >

$10.6 million for land and buildings? :crazy:

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 10 2015,11:29 pm

The city purchased a building at 314 S. Broadway for $130,000, which currently houses the Christian & Peterson Law Firm. :crazy:

George Marin was the only councilman to vote against this wasteful spending..
Video of his opinion on why its wrong to spend taxpayer dollars on this crap while pressing issues go without any attention.. :clap:

< View on YouTube >

Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 10 2015,11:50 pm

^^awww? It didn't load

This is becoming addicting following this.

Posted by was1 on Aug. 11 2015,8:41 am

Well, looks like they can easily find $2M to purchase property next to the current city garage for future expansion needs, but cant find $2M to correct 30+ years of flooding in a neighborhood and business area? And they are taking part of the $ from the sewer and water fund? Really? And only George was able to realize the insanity of it? I guess A.L. will never change.

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 11 2015,9:31 am

$3,500 per year lost in Tax Revenue on top of the $130,000 paid by taxpayers on 314 S Broadway.. :crazy:

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 11 2015,12:34 pm

314 S Broadway Ave.

Across from Wells Fargo Bank..

The City also purchased 310 S Broadway Ave. earlier..

They will both eventually be sold for $1.00 each to a developer, maybe.. :crazy:

And the City of Albert Lea wants to increase assessments by 318% since 2003 on neighborhoods that are flooded nearly every year and sometimes more than once.. :finger:

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 11 2015,2:30 pm

It appears the Albert Lea Water and Sewer Fund has $4.3 million most years as a source of funding,,

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 16 2015,4:50 am

QUOTE

“It bothers me a little bit that there is such a large concern from the community that we aren’t spending money wisely,”said Albert Lea City Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks. “We represent the people. It’s their money that we are spending. I just want the public to know that I take these things really seriously and we need to sit down and listen to the needs of our constituents.”

A lot of construction is slated for 2016, as well as in the years following, Adams said. Major capital projects included in the 2016 preliminary budget include Park Avenue reconstruction. Reconstruction will include the water, sewer mains and the road itself. Road reconstruction is planned for Lake Chapeau Drive. Lakeview Boulevard construction is planned from Hatch Bridge to Martin Road. Construction is also planned on Edgewater Drive and the airport at the arrival and departure building. The city will be getting grant funding on the airport project from the state and federal aviation and transportation authorities, Adams said.

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...xt-year >

A portion of Virginia Place hasn't seen new pavement for 52 years and allowed to flood for at least 40 years when these issues could have been corrected decades ago..

There must be a project slated for 2016 that can wait so the flooding can be stopped in this area for the reduced cost of $2.1 million, not $20 million..

Edgewater Drive can get by for a while with patching while this Emergency Project is done.. Or do those residents on Edgewater Drive deserve special treatment more than the rest of the City that goes without?

Al "Minnow" Brooks, are you listening? You'll say its not in the budget at this time or the City can't afford such a project at this time or you'll say maybe next year and next year goes on for many many years..

And you were elected to 5 terms? :crazy:

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 16 2015,11:18 am

QUOTE

In City Council–City Manager government, the elected council appoints a city manager, makes major decisions, and wields representative power on behalf of the citizens. The city manager is, in turn, responsible for hiring a city staff to carry out implementation of city ordinances.

Why have a City Council if all they do is pass everything the City Manager/Staff wants passed and when? If the City Manager says jump, the City Council jumps..

Why are our leaders only followers when setting the agenda.. True leaders should be the ones to set the agenda and recommend what should be done with a vote from the City Council.. Does a particular project move forward or not to the agenda, Yay or Nay.. Not because the City Manager/Staff says do it..

Posted by hymiebravo on Aug. 16 2015,4:48 pm

(alcitizens @ Aug. 10 2015,11:29 pm)

QUOTE

The city purchased a building at 314 S. Broadway for $130,000, which currently houses the Christian & Peterson Law Firm. :crazy:

< View on YouTube >

So you have a token voice of dissension. . .

What difference does it make when it has no real impact, for the most part.

Results are what you need, right?

I think the You Tube cable access recordings may be influencing some of those folks as well. :laugh:

Posted by hymiebravo on Aug. 16 2015,5:08 pm

It is like a meeting I watched on You Tube concerning the Broadway bike lanes.

It just looked liked a badly orchestrated charade. IMO

I can see why citizens just ignore what they do altogether.

It is one thing to ignore what people have to say. It is another to [pretend] that you are going to be influenced by them.

What took the State of Minnesota so long to fix that road anyway?

It's only about what; 20 years or so overdue? heh

Posted by was1 on Aug. 19 2015,7:46 am

Delay Edgewater Drive - doubt that is a high priority. And Park Avenue has been on the "list" for at least 15 years. There is now an affordable solution to fixing (or at least greatly reducing the occurance) flooding in the Virginia Place and South Broadway area. After 40 years, it's time to get this done and corrected.

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 19 2015,11:16 pm

(was1 @ Aug. 19 2015,7:46 am)

QUOTE

Tuesday morning at 3am, Virginia Place flooded for the 3rd time this year, not the 3rd time in 100 years or the 3rd time in 10 years, it has flooded 3 times in 1 year..

Yes, Edgewater Drive is not a priority.. Yes, there is an affordable solution to correct the flooding from South Broadway to Frank Ave and Yes, its time to get it done and corrected..

Will the City of Albert Lea do the right thing??

Thanks :thumbsup:

Posted by Liberal on Aug. 20 2015,12:04 am

Two thumbs up for the preacher calling the city manager a liar in a polite way.

How else does one do the math problem $130k + $30k?

Posted by Liberal on Aug. 20 2015,12:13 am

3 times in a year is insane. We got flooded over here a couple years ago and I can't sleep when it's raining because I'm worried it will happen again. And because I have a compromised immune system flood water really makes me nervous. There's bacteria in that nasty flood water that could easily make me really Ill, and put me in the hospital, or worse.

3 times in a year should give you a free pass to kick your councilman's ass, and the mayor too. You might spend a day in jail but it would certainly be worth it to me.

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 21 2015,3:53 pm

City of Albert Lea ASSESSMENT POLICY

iii. Storm Sewer
When the existing storm sewer needs to be replaced due to a deteriorated state, the City shall have the system replaced. The City has a responsibility to maintain storm sewer service to its existing customers. Because of this, the City will bear the cost of the storm sewer replacement.

If the storm sewer needs to be replaced due to a need to increase the capacity of the system due to increased demand from its users, the users who are contributing to the increased demand shall bear the cost of its replacement.

If the system is being replaced due to deteriorated state and it also needs to have its capacity increased due to larger demand, the cost difference between the existing pipe size and the new size which is required shall be assessed to the properties which have increased the demand on the system.

Thanks Lib, I think I'm throwing a few jabs without having to go to jail.. :laugh:

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 24 2015,7:33 am

*** CORRECTION***

The Tax Increase or Assessment Increase for property owners is 218% since 2003..
The Albert Lea Water and Sewer funding for the Reconstruction of Virginia Place and 5th Street only Increased by 6% since 2003..

Posted by was1 on Aug. 27 2015,7:45 am

Has the construction started yet?

Have any discussions been had with any city officials or Jahnke about the lift station and outlet piping upgrades?

How about the City delay their work in upgrading the city garage area, and stop purchasing properties, that they wont tell the tax payers why they are buying them, and get the flooding on Virginia corrected!

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 28 2015,11:31 am

Nothing!

Chad Adams
City Manager
221 E. Clark Street
507-377-4330

Jerry Gabrielatos
Assistant City Manager
221 E. Clark Street
507-377-4316

Steven Jahnke
Public Works Director/ City Engineer
221 E. Clark Street
507-377-4325

Vern Rasmussen, Jr.
Mayor
1426 Edgewater Dr.
507-377-1540

Al “Minnow” Brooks
Sixth Ward Councilor
1402 Academy
507-373-9024

Posted by was1 on Aug. 31 2015,11:36 am

Wow. Whatever marketing company put that together has got to be one of the best. Actually made me think about going back.

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 03 2015,4:36 am

It’s time to stop the nonsense

Published 9:49am Tuesday, August 25, 2015

The city of Albert Lea has won the lottery, or at least the City Council and mayor think we have. We have money going for the purchase of buildings on South Broadway, and then we have even more money going for the demolition or gutting of the buildings to make a new city hall. Then we have a new fire hall, which will cost millions of dollars and then they have a new city garage, which will cost millions of dollars to buy land and build.

They’re spending money like they’ve won the lottery. If we have all this money to spend on new buildings and purchasing old buildings, why aren’t we spending money on the infrastructure of this community?

They want to raise taxes for road repair and they will be fixing the area of Fifth Street and Virginia Place next year, which is long past needing repair, but they have no plans on spending any of that “lottery” money on the flooding problem in that area. What kind of nonsense is that? Yes, the streets need to be repaired, but if you’re going to have the streets torn apart anyway and you have a flooding problem that can be corrected, then let’s correct it.

Where is the idea of all these projects coming from that they want to do all these extravagant things, some unnecessary, like a new city hall? People are often contending with having to live life without the things they want or may even need because they cannot afford it, but it seems the City Council and mayor don’t think they have to worry. If they want something for ‘the city,” they go out and get it — the heck with the budget.

It’s time to stop this nonsense. We do not need the buildings on South Broadway to add to our collection of buildings owned by the city. We do not need to either demolish or gut those same buildings for a new city hall. City hall does not need to be near the courthouse. I think the decision of a new city garage belongs to the people who are working in that garage and whether it’s in good shape and can be used for a few more years. Maybe a new fire hall is needed and that should be looked at and voted on by the public.

We have other things in this town that need to be looked at in the spending behavior of the council and mayor, the most important of which are the raises in pay for some of our top government officials.

The city employees in this town receive anywhere from 2 to 4 percent raises per year, while, for example, the city manager started out at $90,000 and now is up to over $120,000 per year. That’s what I call equality in pay, ladies and gentlemen. Plus he also has an assistant to help perform his job.

Who’s getting the short end of the stick here? If you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s the citizens of this community. We have city councilmen who do not listen to their constituents. At the last council meeting, Councilman Brooks brought up the fact that his constituents don’t want all the spending and that they need to start listening more. We are a small community; we do NOT have the money for these projects.

Talk to your councilman and let them know how you feel about these millions of dollars they want to spend and the millions of dollars they could be spending on saving people’s homes and which is more important.

Kathy Diaz

Albert Lea

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015/08/its-time-to-stop-the-nonsense/ >

:clap:

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 03 2015,5:09 am

Email from City Councilman John Schulte..

John Schulte
Jun 22

to me
*****-

Thank you for your email, I have been out of town since June 12th so so just got this now.

We are aware of the stormwater issues in this area. It is among a few severe localized flooding areas of the City. Unfortunately it is not feasible to design all storm sewer to handle all rain events.

It seems you have a good handle on how the stormwater travels in the area during heavy rain events, and have spoken with the City Engineer. Do you have any ideas on how to better route or attenuate the flows?

John

************************************************************
He's saying some areas deserve to not be flooded while other areas deserve to be flooded.. :crazy:

It doesn't cost that much more to just do it right.. 5000 gpm = 300,000 additional gallons per hour, gone.. Its time for the City Councilmen to start doing what is right, not what is wrong..

He says its not feasible to stop the flooding in several neighborhoods for $2 million, but its feasible to spend $2 million on an old Bank Building.. I want to know how much rent the City of Albert Lea collects on that Lemon..

I think most of the dipsh!ts that pissed away all that money unknowingly created the Future Albert Lea City Hall at the old Freeborn Bank.. Quite fitting..

We need leaders with common sense that are not led around by their noses by the Chamber of Corruption and City Employees..

I bet Christian & Peterson Law Firm will be offering some Legal discounts to those that passed the purchase of their building by the City.. :frusty:

Class Action..

QUOTE

City of Albert Lea ASSESSMENT POLICY

iii. Storm Sewer
When the existing storm sewer needs to be replaced due to a deteriorated state, the City shall have the system replaced. The City has a responsibility to maintain storm sewer service to its existing customers. Because of this, the City will bear the cost of the storm sewer replacement.

If the storm sewer needs to be replaced due to a need to increase the capacity of the system due to increased demand from its users, the users who are contributing to the increased demand shall bear the cost of its replacement.

If the system is being replaced due to deteriorated state and it also needs to have its capacity increased due to larger demand, the cost difference between the existing pipe size and the new size which is required shall be assessed to the properties which have increased the demand on the system.

Posted by grassman on Sep. 03 2015,7:26 am

I noticed in the video, the south end pass the tracks was not shown. The good life is farther up the street!

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 03 2015,7:31 am

I can hear water flowing deep down in this storm drain at the lift station 24 hours a day, even during a drought.. I wonder if sanitary sewage is running to the lift station and then being pumped to Albert Lea Lake..

I've heard the City would connect Sanitary Sewers to Storm Sewers and Storm Sewers to Sanitary Sewers decades ago.. The water should be tested for pollution at the lift station to make sure pollutants are not being pumped to the lake..

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 03 2015,7:37 am

(grassman @ Sep. 03 2015,7:26 am)

QUOTE

I noticed in the video, the south end pass the tracks was not shown. The good life is farther up the street!

I'm ready for a Gibson's Store on SE Broadway.. Remember?

Posted by was1 on Sep. 03 2015,7:52 am

It could be ground water getting into the storm sewer. Are there any existing drain tiles that are tied into the storm?

With how bad the sanitary sewer is, per the report you previously posted, especially with all the sags noted, could very well be sanitary water leaking out of that old clay tile sanitary sewer system and then making its way into the storm. You could try and request that the City perform a smoke test on the sanitary system. I’m not sure if they ever do any of that. A decade or so ago when they did the sump pump disconnect project, which was a good thing, they should have also done system wide sanitary sewer smoke testing to find any cross connections with the storm sewer and also find any other areas that were contributing storm water to the sanitary system. I’ve seen in other places where people have put in yard drains in low areas in their yards and timed them in directly to their sanitary service.

There could also be a water main leak down there that is getting into the storm system. I would put a higher likelihood on that.

Tell Councilman Schulte that you are not asking them to design and construct a storm sewer system that will handle ALL rain events but you should at a minimum expect to have a system that is designed and built to the same storm year event as the rest of the city, or whatever the current city standard is. My guess is that at a minimum the storm system for the roads is designed to a 5 or 10 7year event. But that lift station should be at a minimum of 25 years and it sounds like that is the real problem, the lift station.

Mr. Schulte is in the engineering and surveying business, he should understand storm events and that by the say 10 year storm event standard the residents can expect, on average, to get flooded out once every 10 years (yeah there are lots of variables to this due to rain intensities, etc., but let’s try and keep is somewhat simple here) not multiple times a year.

I hope you keep after them on this issue and get others from your area, and other parts of town, to also push this. The residents need to start packing the city council meetings and fully using the time allowed for public comment to address these issues. Tell them to stop spending money on non-essentials (like old buildings, pretty street lights, etc.) and get fixing the crumbling infrastructure that is causing the TAX PAYING citizens undue hardships.

Also, does Albert Lea have a storm water utility where they are charging everyone a monthly “fee” to fund storm water project? where’s that $ going if it’s not going to fix a 40- year flooding problem?

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 06 2015,11:38 pm

I've told the City of Albert Lea that I won't let this subject die until I do..

They have said that the reconstruction of Virginia Place is not feasible since Al "Minnow" Brooks was elected in the 90's.. Even Brooks voted against the reconstruction back in 2003.. Dumba$$!! Then he votes in 2006 to increase assessments by 218% for all neighborhood improvements in his Ward.. He should resign for being a frikin Moron..

Can City Councilmen seriously say now that it is not feasible to stop the flooding in Al "Minnow" Brooks Ward since the fix has dropped from $20 million to $2 million? A fix proven by the Constituents of his Ward...

The City of Albert Lea collects money for Storm Sewer improvements every month from the Water and Sewer Bill we all pay every single month..,

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 07 2015,6:40 pm

If the storm sewer needs to be replaced due to a need to increase the capacity of the
system due to increased demand from its users, the users who are contributing to the
increased demand shall bear the cost of its replacement.

**************************************************************

City Policy doesn't mention "Feasibility" .. The City of Albert Lea has the responsibility to increase the capacity and charge those who increased the demand..

Guess What? The City of Albert Lea and MnDot are the users that increased the demand and destroyed personal property for the past 4 decades.. :dunce:

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 09 2015,12:58 pm

I find this disturbing.. Freeborn County now doesn't allow Beacon users to gain access to Property Tax Statements.. :blush:

I got an email from Beacon after I set up an account.. You would never guess for a minute that this list of folks don't want the residents of Freeborn County/Albert Lea to have access to all public records..

Here is the email I got today, I'm the cc:

from: beacon@schneidercorp.com

to:
tim.fulton@co.freeborn.mn.us
ryan.rasmusson@co.freeborn.mn.us
jaci.koeppen@co.freeborn.mn.us
erin.hornberger@co.freeborn.mn.us

cc: me*****@gmail.com

date: Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 10:10 AM

subject: New Beacon user account created

mailed-by: schneidercorp.com

: Important mainly because of the people in the conversation.

*************************************************

Rice County has their property tax statements available at Beacon.. Lookup address 429 LOCKWOOD DR at < https://beaconbeta.schneidercorp.com/ >

For many years Property Tax Statements have been available for Freeborn County on Beacon..

Somebody at the County level doesn't want residents of Freeborn County to know what is going on with Property Taxes and Assessments.. :oops:

Posted by Self-Banished on Sep. 09 2015,1:35 pm

^^ I use Beacon to look up properties in another county, tax statements are always available.

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 11 2015,9:51 pm

FYI..

Posted by was1 on Sep. 14 2015,8:57 am

I thought originally the project was supposed to be completed this fall. What was the completion date in the contracts and what are the penalties? “Wet conditions we’ve been facing this year”. This year? It is always wet in the south end of Virginia. Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to tell them regarding the flooding?

Find out what contract completion dates are and if the City has issued a change order to extend them. Typically you want to get all the utilities done and then the subgrade corrections, granular base and the first lift of bituminous all done in the first construction year. Then let it go through a winter season, go back and correct any settlement areas and apply the final lift of bituminous. Sounds like now all the actual road work will be done in one season so any settling (and I bet there will be some) will take place in the final surfacing so the corrections will be more difficult and will look bad. You’ll have patches in your new road the first year.

You deserve better than this. If they are pushing this work out till next year, they better
1) Get the list station and outlet piping corrected to handle the storm water better as part of this project.
2) Reduce all the assessments since it is not being completed in the timeframe everyone was told. Hold the contractor to the originally contracted completion dates, assess the penalties and pass the penalty savings onto the assessed properties.

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 17 2015,10:03 pm

The City wants to install a Grinder Pump System on my property for sanitary sewer.. Does anybody know the pro's and con's of this type of system?

Can't say I want an ugly obstacle to mow around in my front yard..

< Grinder Pump System >

I think they should replace the current gravity system..

Posted by was1 on Sep. 18 2015,7:47 am

My 2 cents on grinder system.

If you leave in a location that currently does not have city sewer and due to elevations, bedrock, or other constructability and cost issues they are a good option. If you are currently on a gravity sewer system why would you want to change to something that is mechanical?

When the flooding occurs in the area, does your sanitary sewer ever backup into your home? If it does, this will eliminate it, so that would be the one positive.

Otherwise, keep in mind and find out about the following:
- You are now relying on a mechanical system that will need maintenance and replacement.
o Better find out who (property owner or city) is responsible for the maintenance and replacement costs. I know of some lake sewering projects where low pressure systems were used with grinder pumps (typically E-One’s) where there were electrical issues and pump failures. Homes had to pay to have their electrical system upgraded to meet code requirements to hook up the pump system and they were left having to have the pumps replaced a couple years later when they failed (couple grand each time). Plus, you find its not working when you are backing up.
- When the power is out, your pump won’t work so be aware of that.
- I have also heard of issues with the check valves failing. The low pressure system backs up and either causes the checks to fail and stick closed, leading to pump burnout, or get stuck open, allowing the sewer to back into your pit, again leading to the pump burning out and also sewerage backing into your building.
- Although most likely minimal, your power bill will go up, every time to flush, or run any water, it is now requiring power to expel it from your home.

Thought the project was already designed, bid and under construction. Seems to me that the city should have thought of this before, during the 15+ years of design.

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 18 2015,1:15 pm

I'm aware of a sewage backup once at this location..

I will not allow a Grinder Pump System to be put on my property.. :thumbsup:

Did you notice there was not a word about storm sewer upgrades in the letter above.. :dunce:

Posted by was1 on Sep. 22 2015,3:18 pm

Absolute shame on the storm water. City Engineer and his staff are not doing their job, nor their duty, not pushing the issue with those that control the $. It is the duty of an engineer to FIX problems, not ignore them. All that $ they are spending is a waste if the flooding issue is not adequately corrected.

City Manager also to blame. Unfortunately you can only hold the current one responsible, but all going back to the '70's when this was first brought up and had FUNDS to pay for are to blame.

Mayor and Councilors should be ashamed of how this is being handled. Waste of funds by not also fixing flooding. So, dump all the $ into the sanitary and water (I have no probem there, they need it). But to ignore the storm sewer and dump all the money into the pavement structure and surfacing, which are going to prematurely fail due to the flooding and the saturated conditions that will leave in the new pavement structure, is just wrong.

Posted by alcitizens on Sep. 22 2015,6:22 pm

Two City Engineers and an Engineering Technician stopped over and attempted to talk me into a Grinder Pump System.. I Refused!! Gravity Sanitary Sewer it shall be..

I was told that the sanitary sewer in need of replacement that runs east and west at 1202 Virginia Pl will not be replaced.. :dunce:

City Engineer Jahnke said earlier this year that this line was in need of replacement from Virginia Pl to Newton Ave and would have to be horizontally drilled into place because the current line runs under private property and a trench was not possible.. If the City doesn't replace this line, I know I will end up with sh!t in my basement one of these days.. This City has a bunch of sorry a$$ dumb phuckers up there at City Hall.. :crazy:

I was informed that they will replace some storm sewer with tile on Virginia Pl..

Posted by was1 on Sep. 23 2015,8:03 am

Sounds to me like they (the engineers) are not living by their creed:
Engineers' Creed
As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare. I pledge: To give the utmost of performance; To participate in none but honest enterprise; To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct; To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations. In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.

The east/west line needs to be replaced from James to Newton. Has been bad for a long time from what I was told about 15 years ago. If I remember correctly from maps I saw back then, it does run on private property, right where an old river bed is (why there is all the poor soils and peat in the area, and why you can see the houses basically on either side of this line leaning). If a new line needs to be directionally drilled then they should do it. Or line it to at least eliminate the I&I that is getting in to it and overloading the sanitary system there.

Again, something that they (Engineers, City Manager, and elected officials) all should have been looking at for the last 40 years and had figured out and planned for replacement as part of this project.

What good is tile going to do in an area that you said flooded what, 3 times already this year? So the drain tile that they will tie into the storm sewer will then backup when the storm sewer overloaded. That will then force water into the road subgrade (since that is where the drain tile will be located). All that is going to do is further saturate those soils and quicken the degradation of those soils and your new million dollar road.

VOTE OUT YOUR MAYOR AND COUNCILORS!! DEMAND YOUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY ENGINEER RESIGN FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOBS!

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 05 2015,8:51 pm

June is the worst flooding month in this neighborhood and they plan on doing curb, gutter and a sidewalk along with new asphalt during this time period.. Flooding in June of 1978 destroyed several homes on Virginia Place.. What will happen in June of 2016?

Posted by was1 on Oct. 09 2015,7:45 am

I thought originally they told everyone it would all be done this fall? What was the contract completion date? They better not have given the contractor an extension because they had other work they (the contractor) deemed more important.

ever find out why they wanted you to go to a grinder pump system?

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 11 2015,9:21 pm

This snippet should answer your question about a timeline (1.5 minutes long)..

All the concrete and road surface will be done next year.. More waiting.. :crazy:

< View on YouTube >

Grinder pump was intended to avoid a major sewer backup entering my home.. I'm sure it's because they don't want to replace the sewer line that runs east and west at 1201 Virginia Pl heading to Broadway.. When that old concrete pipe completely collapse's, all the sewage coming from 6th Street and N Virginia Place will flood the basements of these few homes on S Virginia Pl with sh!t..

If the collapse happens during a rain storm, those few properties will not only be flooded with sh!t, they will be flooded with thousands of gallons of storm water..

The City of Albert Lea is cutting corners in this neighborhood so somebody at the City level gets a bonus..

How many lies did you hear in the video above?

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 12 2015,5:44 am

I still can't find anything that says a storm sewer force main requires manholes.. :dunce:

Sale!! 90% discount to stop the flooding on Virginia Place.. Regular Price $20,000,000.00.. Now only 2 million..

The Soil is not the problem, the flooding is the problem.. People can currently come down and look into several of these 8 foot deep craters and see clay, gravel and dirt.. Peat my A$$..

The Albert Lea City Engineer is a lying sack of sh!t on this subject.. Phony stories have been used to avoid correcting the real problem for decades so funds can be used elsewhere..

The City and State are responsible for sending the flood water to this location..

Photo's will be posted soon..

Posted by was1 on Oct. 12 2015,10:13 am

You, and your neighbors, should not be required do a grinder pump to fix their problem. Why should you have to deal with that? No reason to keep passing on upgrading the storm sewer outlet pumping and piping. $2M is a steal for what needs to be done and fixed.

So, July 13th they tell everyone it will all be done by end of this year. Now they push it to next year. Totally wrong to do. Why the change? What is the contract completion date for the contractor? If it is this year, contractor should be paying liquidated damages if they are not meeting the completion date of this year. Seems like LIE after LIE. AT 50:50 all work, other than final lift (usually 2”) of bituminous to be done this year. WHY THE CHANGE???

I do believe that there is peat there, could be below what you’ve seen. Guessing they filled the area at some time and just put it on the peat. I know when they did James, there was Peat in that same area. You could use light weight fill in the peat area to help alleviate the potential compressing of the underlying peat. If you are not going to add any additional weight to what is there now, there should be no further consolidation.

Soil is not the problem with the flooding that is for sure. Unfortunately, my guess is when more flooding does occur in your area, the City will use the “Act of God” to get out of any lawsuits or payment for damages – EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THE STORM SEWER IS NOT ADEQUATE!

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 13 2015,12:20 am

I know there is a certain amount of peat but the damage is only done by allowing several thousand tons of storm water to periodically shift the ground which leads to a leaking sanitary and storm sewer system that allows the soil to be washed away to the lake and to the Albert Lea sewage treatment facility..

The on and off pressures from flooding does serious damage to everything from the surface downward..

You can keep bending a piece of wire back and forth but you can't blame the wire when it breaks.. The City of Albert Lea is blaming the wire.. :dunce:

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 13 2015,5:49 pm

Today..

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 13 2015,5:51 pm

Inside Pit..

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 13 2015,10:29 pm

Albert Lea Tribune

Lakeview Boulevard contractor faces fines for late completion

Published 10:28am Thursday, October 8, 2015

Ulland Brothers will be assessed $2,500 in liquidated damages for each work day retroactive to Oct. 1, the day the project was supposed to be complete.

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the provision was written in the contract.

“They have to follow it, and it protects the city and the residents to ensure the project gets done on time and in a quality manner,” Adams said.

The city will assess the fine once the project is complete, Adams said. The project is expected to be completed in the next two to three weeks.

The city plans on sitting down with the contractor when the project is completed to discuss how it went and the provision in the contract.

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...pletion >

Public hearing on road assessments

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...tonight >

Residents express concern over street projects

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...rojects >

What about the delay on Virginia Place and 5th St? I sure would like to see the contract..

Posted by was1 on Oct. 14 2015,8:42 am

I enjoyed the pictures. Hard to tell in the second photo if it is the dark blue/gray slit that is common in the area or compressed peat in places. Looks more like the silt, I’m guessing the peat is below the bottom of the trench. Still don’t understand the logic of pipe bursting the utilities. Can be open trenched at a much lower cost and done in a way that does not add weight to the overburden on the peat to cause additionally compression of the peat. 15+ years of design and thought on this project and that is what they came up with? Sad.

Glad to see the city is finally going to assess liquidated damages on a contractor. I bet that is about a first. For decades there has been no competition (or next to none) on the construction projects in that town and the contractors who have done the work have always dragged things out, because they were never held accountable to the completion dates. Keep after them about the Virginia project completion date.

Will be hard for those complaining about their assessments to get far. The person with the damaged vehicle needs to go after the contractor, not the city. The guy with the driveway issue, hopefully has some photos of before and after that he can show and discuss from. He should have been talking to whomever from the engineering office was onsite during the work to get it taken care of. As for the guy complaining about access during the construction, sorry, but “suck it up buttercup”. You need to realize you are going to be very inconvenienced during construction. If you see things going on that could change to make it better as it is happening you better be talking to the engineering department and ask to also meet with the contractor to see what can be modified to help out the residents, don’t wait until it is done and too late to do anything about.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 16 2015,11:39 am

I am very happy to see this project moving forward,, I am also disappointed that the flooding issue that the City said would cost $20 million to correct when really it would only cost about $2 million will continue on into the future and only get worse as the climate warms..

The cost would be paid by the City, not the homeowners in the 5 to 6 block flood zone.

What you see in the pictures above has been like that for two weeks..

City Policy

If the storm sewer needs to be replaced due to a need to increase the capacity of the system due to increased demand from its users, the users who are contributing to the increased demand shall bear the cost of its replacement.

The City of Albert Lea and MnDot are the only users contributing to the increase in demand in this area.. And you wonder why they have allowed the flooding to continue for nearly 40 years..

------------------------------------------------------------------

As mentioned earlier about the sanitary sewer that runs east to west at 1201 Virginia Pl that the City Engineer said would not be replaced while he was at my home to discuss a Grinder Pump System.

Now you will know why they wanted me to install a grinder pump system at my house.. They don't want to fix the sag.. I have never seen the City maintain a sewer system until it has already failed.. The City needs to replace this line NOW while the road is tore up.. Replace the sag only from Newton to James, for Christ sake..

The City has essentially said they are going to flood me with raw sewage one of these days.. :crazy:

When the City doesn't want to fix something, they blow it out of proportion.. :dunce:

Read document below..

CHRISTOPHERSON v. CITY OF ALBERT LEA

< http://caselaw.findlaw.com/mn-court-of-appeals/1043968.html >

-2015 Feasibility Study-

Posted by was1 on Oct. 19 2015,8:07 am

Well, if a City decides that it’s too expensive to fix a problem, then they should be liable for any damage to its citizens it causes.

In this case, city has known of an issue for 40 years and has done nothing. Now that they are doing something, it’s not all that actually needs to be done to correct the problem.

Go to every council meeting, bring your neighbors, and bring this up until they do something. Write your state reps as well to get MNDOT to pony up for their part. My guess, the city will just wait you out until you give up. DON’t DO IT!

Sounds to me like they know they have a HUGE issue.
“We have done additional investigation and determined that the only way to eliminate this sag is to start at Newton Avenue and bore a new sanitary sewer line to 6th Street and St. John. We would then need to reconstruct the lift station at this location deeper. At this location, the sanitary sewer flows through private property from Newton Avenue to James Avenue. Some of this existing pipe appears to be under existing homes. At this time we are proposing to install a large manhole in Virginia Place in order to clean and maintain the lines.”
So, they admit there is a problem. And they have a solution “bore a new sanitary sewer line”. Well then do that! What is “install a large manhole in Virginia Place in order to clean and maintain the lines” going to do? That makes no sense. And if they are so concerned with soils and further compressing them leading to settling, why would they put a larger, heavier, manhole there to just fill with more sewage, which adds more weight and more settling.

Sadly, it seems that 1) there really is not a good, knowledgeable, engineering working for the city, and 2) the city manager either a) doesn’t have a clue, or b) doesn’t care, and 3) the council and mayor are useless. I bet if this was occurring in the downtown area, and building there that the city wanted to see redeveloped, they would have spent their $20M to fix this, now, even at the proven 1/10th of that cost, the city refuses to do what is right and what they really are REQUIRED TO DO. If they are not going to properly maintain the sanitary and storm sewer systems, then they should not be charging you their storm water fee and you should not be charged the maintenance portion of the sanitary sewer billing.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 20 2015,9:49 am

Residents in the area are in danger of raw sewage flooding their homes but raw sewage is also being allowed to constantly leak into the ground and allowing pollutants to enter the water table..

I'm sure there are laws against polluting the ground water or allowing raw sewage to enter a storm sewer system that eventually goes to Albert Lea Lake..

Both the Storm Sewer and the Sanitary Sewer need to be upgraded..
As with CHRISTOPHERSON, the City will blame the residents that live on Virginia Place.. :dunce:

QUOTE

CHRISTOPHERSON v. CITY OF ALBERT LEA

Respondents live in the Virginia Place neighborhood, the lowest part of the city. Over the years, this neighborhood has suffered periodic flooding following intense rainfall. After flooding in 1978, the city encouraged residents to move out of the area by providing funding to relocate. Respondents purchased their home in 1987 from a resident who decided not to relocate. Before the July 13, 1997 storm involved in this matter, respondents had never experienced a sewer backup in their home or complained to the city about any problems with the sewer system.

< http://caselaw.findlaw.com/mn-court-of-appeals/1043968.html >

Posted by Liberal on Oct. 20 2015,10:47 am

If we had a sanitary line and storm sewer line crossed by the old Ramsey school then how many others do we have?

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 20 2015,10:52 am

(Liberal @ Oct. 20 2015,10:47 am)

QUOTE

If we had a sanitary line and storm sewer line crossed by the old Ramsey school then how many others do we have?

Old Ramsey is up the hill from me.. :hairpull:

Picture from today..

Posted by Liberal on Oct. 20 2015,10:58 am

The place where they crossed was next to the old flower shop that people used to say was a front for a bookie.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 20 2015,5:05 pm

With the assistance from City staff to remove Sanitary Sewer manhole covers on Newton Ave, Virginia Place and James, I measured the depth of each to the top of the pipe and deducted those measurements from the elevation of each manhole cover..

My findings showed a MAJOR SAG of 3 feet below original depth on Virginia Place..

A 3 foot SAG by far exceeds an acceptable sag of 10 inches(Pipe Size) on Virginia Place.. This is an Emergency!!

The City of Albert Lea needs to act now before further property damage is done.. I beg you all to please correct this issue with a new line from Newton Ave to James Ave and avoid a pending disaster..

Pipe Elevations (above sea level):

Newton Ave. 1209 ft

Virginia Place. 1205 ft (Should be 1208 ft)

James Ave. 1207 ft

This Information was sent to the following:

ccmikelee@yahoo.com
abrooks@ci.albertlea.mn.us
gmarin@ci.albertlea.mn.us
mayor@ci.albertlea.mn.us
christopher.shoff@co.freeborn.mn.us
dbelshan@clear.lakes.com
glenmath@frontiernet.net
jschulte@ci.albertlea.mn.us
lbaker@ci.albertlea.mn.us
reolson@ci.albertlea.mn.us
sschulte@ci.albertlea.mn.us
cadams@ci.albertlea.mn.us
sjahnke@ci.albertlea.mn.us
clowe@ci.albertlea.mn.us

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 21 2015,12:26 am

City Engineer Chris Lowe told me that the sanitary sewer in front of my house had settled 1 foot over the years.. The new line just bored in about a month ago runs exactly along side of the old line.. :dunno:

I was told by my neighbor at 12X1 Virginia Pl that City Engineer Steve Jahnke told her that only her property and mine needed a grinder pump system..?? I find this interesting because my property has the only basement that is 4 feet deep, all the other properties are 8 feet deep..

To be brutally honest, every house on S Virginia Place would have to have 4 feet of raw sewage in their basement before I would see anything rising out of my floor drain..

Its not easy being an advocate for Albert Lea Citizens but somebody has to do it or the City Engineers will continue to blow smoke up your A$$ and also the A$$es of the Albert Lea City Council.. They have gotten by with this crap for decades..

Posted by was1 on Oct. 21 2015,8:20 am

You’ve been good with getting maps before, can you get one that shows the sanitary manholes and piping in this location and note the problem ones? Putting in a new sanitary sewer with a SAG in it is just plain wrong and goes against everything an engineer is to do.

Makes one start to question the qualifications of the engineers working for AL. What experience do they have? What training do they have? Spending the money they are spending on this project to still have these issues is not correct.

Only benefit with the new pipe, even with the sag, is that it is now water tight so no additional ground water will enter the sanitary system from this area, except for all the home services that are most likely old 2 foot sections of clay tile that leak like a sieve.

Would love to see a map of the sanitary in the area and be able to better comment.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 21 2015,10:59 am

Yellow line is Sanitary Sewer with a 3 foot sag on Virginia Pl (Center) between Newton and James..

Red line is Sanitary Sewer that sank 1 foot on the south end and 3 feet at the Sag at the Yellow line..

Posted by was1 on Oct. 21 2015,11:55 am

Realizing it was a long time ago, but City should have never allowed homes to be build over that sewer line. I wonder what type of easement they hold for the sewer line.

The sag needs to be corrected and can be easily.

1) eliminate the manhole that is second from the south. Unless there is some reason I can not think of, it does not need to be there, and is only taking up some of the available grade going norht.
2) adjust the alignement of the sewer line in virgina place so that the N-S line meets the E-W line either in the east or west side of the street out of the street. I realize this is not the "standard" and that there could be conflicts with either the watermain or the storm sewer, but then make adjustments to those and hear me out.
3) getting the intersection point out of the road would allow for a lighter weight material manhole to be installed, which would reduce the likelihood of future settling and redeveloping a sag in that sanitary main
4) directionally drill the new sewer line from Newton, to the new manhole at Virginia and then over to James. Yes you will need to dig in James which was reconstructed in the last 15 years or so.

Now, the approximately 0.5% grade available from Newton to James, per your elevations, barely meets minimum grade standards for an 8" sanitary sewer. More difficult is the installation by boring at that shallow of a grade. However, even if throgh the boring process some minor sags or high spots develop, it would still be worlds ahead of what you have with a manhole sitting 3 feet too low and filled with sewage all the time.

Top notch engineering and out of the box thinking going on at City Hall.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 21 2015,1:32 pm

(was1 @ Oct. 21 2015,11:55 am)

QUOTE

The entire line from Virginia Pl to James Ave. is completely full with sewage..

Half of the line from Virginia Pl to Newton Ave. is completely full with sewage..

I'm guessing from my calculations that nearly all of of the sewer south of the Sag on Virginia Place is always completely full of sewage..

Tick, Tick, Tick.. Its only a matter of time and conditions..

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 23 2015,11:54 am

I do want to say thank you to the state engineering staff for the new dip on Broadway in front of R&S Racing.. I think what they did helped majorly because the last heavy rain we got was 3 inches in one hour.. No flooding.. Normally it took much less rainfall to flood the area of Virginia Place..

My family calls the new dip, "Troy's Hump".. :woohoo:

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 23 2015,12:58 pm

(was1 @ Oct. 21 2015,11:55 am)

QUOTE

I heard through the grape vine that they are going to replace 75 ft on the east side and 75 ft on the west side of the Virginia Pl sag and avoid the private property..

This plan would be very acceptable to me!! :thumbsup:

Don't know if they would use open trench or horizontal drilling.. :dunno:

I sure wish I'd start seeing more gravel being used rather than them pushing the mud back into the holes..

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 25 2015,9:01 pm

It was so easy for the City to blame the residents of Virginia Place over the past 40 years saying that living in that area will always involve flooding because of the location and the soil.. Now they know a simple hump on Broadway with a storm drain that flows NORTH to Front St could have helped the residents in the area feel a little more secure in their neighborhood, even knowing it was far from being perfect..

The City is just beginning to pay the price for neglecting this neighborhood..

Posted by was1 on Oct. 26 2015,8:06 am

can you explain the "hump" and what was done on Broadway to help with your flooding?

"heard through the grape vine"? City should be directly communicating with the residents on Virginia Pl on everything they are doing that is to help their situation. What is all the secrecy about?

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 26 2015,11:58 pm

(was1 @ Oct. 26 2015,8:06 am)

QUOTE

From side to side of Broadway just north of 5th St, they created a valley and then a hill if you were driving south.. Water running south on Broadway is trapped in this valley which flows to a new storm drain that enters the storm sewer going to Front St instead of being allowed to continue on further south and enter the storm sewer that goes to Virginia Pl..

The east to west sanitary sewer on Virginia Pl with the sag in it was replaced today without having to bore a new line from Newton to St. John or reconstructing the 6th St. and St. John lift station.. :thumbsup:

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 27 2015,9:11 am

CORRECTION: The east to west sanitary sewer replacement on Virginia Place that has a sag in it has not been done.. I have informed the city engineering staff that I want a visual of the manhole to verify that the sag has been corrected.. They said it was not done..

I was misinformed through the grape vine..

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 27 2015,9:41 am

New Pic..

Posted by was1 on Oct. 27 2015,9:54 am

Maybe that is why the City wanted you to go to a grinder pump, so they could raise the main infront of your place to also raise at the sag.

From what you have stated here, I do not have any faith that the City Engineering Staff knows what they are doing, and are capable of making the correct decisions to make the necessary corrections.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 27 2015,3:40 pm

The elevation at the top of the new sewer pipe in front of my house(center of my driveway) is 1209 ft above sea level..

There is no reason to offer a grinder pump system other than their attempt to avoid future liability for inaction or an improper installation of the new sewer.. "We tried to get homeowners to install a grinder pump system at City expense".. They forget about the future expense and maintenance to homeowners to keep it operating and also the likelihood for a damaging backup from within..

Taxpayer funds were offered by the City for grinder pump systems without a vote from the City Council so they could avoid correcting the sag.. Put those funds towards correcting the sag.. My opinion can change as soon as I'm allowed to look into the east-west manhole that is a sanitary sewer on Virginia Pl..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The property at 1201 Virginia Pl has not been connected to the new bored in sewer line because the contractor couldn't make sewage run up hill.. The sewer line coming from the house is nearly 2 feet below the new sewer main.. I sure hope the line coming from the house falls quickly so all they need to do is dig all the way to the house and install a new service line that will fall towards the new sewer main.. This new sewer main should be no higher than 1208 ft above sea level at the manhole,,

Posted by was1 on Oct. 29 2015,1:15 pm

Not knowing where your driveway is in comparison to the manhole, or where 1201 is in relation to the manhole, I have the following observations:

I am assuming the manhole you have been talking about is the one that is settled and sitting with sewage and is the one that also has the east/west line going through it. You said that the elevation of that one is 1208, and I am assuming that is the flow line of that manhole.

You said the top of the new sewer line at your drive way is at 1209. I am assuming that they installed an 8” pipe, since that would be the minimum size for a sanitary main. That would give the pipe a flow line elevation of approximately 1208.33 at your driveway. That pipe would need to be installed with a minimum grade of 0.4%. That being said, your driveway would need to be no more than 82 feet from the manhole to ensure that the sewer main has the minimum required slope.

My assumption is that the situation at 1201 is exactly why the City Engineering Department was trying to get a number of you to go to a grinder pump system. They either knew, or at a minimum were concerned, that service laterals were going to be lower than the new main.

You stated “This new sewer main should be no higher than 1208 ft above sea level at the manhole.” I’m confused by that. The new sewer main needs to be higher as you go away from the manhole to get the sewerage to get to it.

City has been planning this project for about 15 years, one would think they would have better looked into the sewer elevations and made appropriate plans.

I have seen where homes are built on old swap areas over peat. Over time the homes settle. This could be what happened here and the home, along with the sewer service, settled and is now lower than it was and what the sewer main is at.

Regardless, it still needs to be fixed, and at the City’s cost.

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 29 2015,7:25 pm

The house at 1201 got their sewer connected and it appears to be level or falling back rather than falling toward the the new sewer main..

The green 3" pipe is the new service to 1201..

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 30 2015,3:18 am

(was1 @ Oct. 29 2015,1:15 pm)

QUOTE

You stated “This new sewer main should be no higher than 1208 ft above sea level at the manhole.” I’m confused by that. The new sewer main needs to be higher as you go away from the manhole to get the sewerage to get to it.

My location is at 1209 ft with a 10" line that falls northward to the manhole that should be at 1208 ft to remove the 3 foot sag running east-west..

Now we know the sewer coming from my house going north should have been run to a holding tank with a sanitary lift station at a depth of about 1202 ft above sea level..

Instead the City completely screwed it up in their effort to avoid installing a new Sanitary Sewer Lift Station.. Residents have never been at more risk of a sewer backup then they are now..

1201's old sewer connection had plenty of fall and also a pipe elbow that turned downward and extended for an additional 2 to 3 feet that
connected to the old sewer.. :blush:

This should explain the offers of high maintenance grinder pump systems.. :hairpull:

Posted by was1 on Oct. 30 2015,12:03 pm

Did they put in a 10” line? If so why? No need for more than a 8” main there and if they did it to reduce the required slope, that is not allowed if the flow does not require the larger pipe size, per the standards you referenced.

As for the pilings for 1201, same thing the city needed to do for the utilities, but decided to try the pipe bursting and boring method instead. They should have looked at putting the manhole where the E/W and N/S lines meet, then put in new sanitary main and backfill the encasement area with a lightweight fill to help alleviate the settling potential.

One has to assume that at the time of original construction of the sanitary main, that it was at an elevation that 1) actually worked, and 2) allowed all the homes to connect without backflow. As I’ve said before, the city has been working on this project for over a decade and should have looked at this and made the appropriate design modifications to get this to work. Now, it more than likely would not have been cost effective to put in a sanitary lift station for those couple of houses that appear to now need it, but if they could not correct the existing system to work by gravity, then they needed to evaluate that as a solution and also, as it sounds like they have, going to a low pressure system with each home having a grinder pump. Do a cost evaluation on all the options, meet with the home owners that would be affect and then do what is right. What it sounds like they have done is not a solution.

3” for the service laterals? I do not believe that meets code or standards. I believe all laterals should be 4”. Also, by code and standards, the laterals coming from the home to the main shall have a minimum fall of 1/8” per foot.

These issues are exactly why they came around talking to you about the grinder pumps. They did it in a poor way and years too late to start that conversation

Posted by alcitizens on Oct. 31 2015,1:56 am

I have so much video footage and documents of the City of Albert Lea saying that Virginia Place has been a flooding area going back to the 1970's and video and documents of the City saying much of the utility problems in the neighborhood is caused by a soil made up of a very deep layer of peat..

With this knowledge the City still installed a sanitary sewer in the area that would be considered below minimum standards for a neighborhood that doesn't have a flooding history or a soil that allows utilities to sink and sag..

These issues call for a sanitary sewer to be installed on Virginia Place at maximum standards to overcome any future sagging..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 02 2015,8:09 am

Complete waste of every resident of Albert Lea's money what they are doing. If your car was not working would the mechanic replace the broken part with a part that is still broken, but only a little less broken? If they did, they would have to correct it on their dime, and would probably go out of business once word got around.

Unfortunately, the City’s dime is also the residents and businesses dime. Only thing left is to spread the word about what is going on. VOTE OUT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO REFUSES TO MAKE THE CORRECTIONS. Force them to shake up the Engineering Department. They all should be ashamed for what they have done. Knowingly designing and installing a substandard system is just wrong. The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design should be notified and a complaint filed against everyone in the engineering department who has a PE license in Minnesota. Shoot, a couple years ago the County Engineer simply forgot to send in her license renewal and she got in trouble (I believe it resulted in a monetary fine of about $2,500, no loss of license). What the City Engineer and his staff have done here is far worse.

Good luck. I hope something can be done to correct the blatant disregard for engineering standards, and more importantly, the wrong that they are doing to you residents.

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 03 2015,4:21 pm

I admit to an error in my calculations on minimum slopes.. :oops:

Please accept my apology..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 04 2015,1:50 pm

What were you’re errors? Minimum slope for 8” is 0.4% and for 10” it is 0.28%. For the few homes tied in on that south end of Virginia, you only need an 8” pipe. And, you are not to upsize to use a lesser slope because then your cleaning velocities are not met and you get the main backing up.

Also, putting in the new sewer but still having sags is just WRONG!

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 05 2015,8:24 am

.28 divided by 100= .0028

.0028 X 12(inches)= .0336

.0336 X 100= 3.36" drop

3.36" divided by 12(inches)= .28% slope

3.36" Drop every 100 feet = .28% Minimum Slope every 100 feet

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 07 2015,11:29 am

It appears that one big sag has been turned into three sags at the manhole where the yellow line meets the red line on Virginia Place..

The elevation of the NEW pipe on the south side of the manhole has been raised from 1205 to about 1207 feet above sea level.. Still about one foot short of the correct elevation of about 1208 and a good chance of creating additional sags on both the east and west sides of the manhole(white circles)..

That would be a sag on the east and west sides along with a manhole that is still too low..

Still thinking a small lift station is needed along with the east/west sections being replaced..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 11 2015,8:03 am

So, the brand new sanitarysewer line they are instaling is not correct and will hold sewage? That is just plain wrong, does not meet standards, and goes against everything an engineer should stand for.

Also, from what you have said, it sounds like the City has no intentions of ever correcting the the east-west line. The main in James was replaced what, 10 years ago? And now the Virigina line is being replaced. So they are going to leave the approximately 200 feet between the two as it is? And by as it is I mean non functioning? That line already has a major sag in it allowing sewage to sit and the solids to settle out. Eventually that is going to lead to a plugged line and major sewer backups. And with the condition of that line, its likely that a calapse will occur with the same result.

Just plain stupid on the City, and the Ciy Engineers part.

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 11 2015,2:41 pm

100% Correct.. With the installation of a new sewer manhole at the east/west connection makes it more than just a Sag.. This Sag has been intentionally engineered by the City of Albert Lea to at least one foot below proper grade with no slope from Virginia Place to James Ave.

To correct the City of Albert Lea Engineered Sag would require a small lift station or pumping station for six properties because to achieve a proper slope would require the manhole to be raised one foot above the sewer main that goes to South Virginia Place..

The City of Albert Lea has Engineered a waste water sewer system that doesn't even come close to meeting any minimum standards and puts residents at severe risk of a sewer backup and the damage that comes with such a backup..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 12 2015,3:31 pm

Continue to complain to the City powers.

Complain to the MPCA, they are the regulating body for sanitary sewer in Minnesota. The City had to complete a permit application and submit it to the MPCA. They have to answer a number of questions on the application and say design is correct. I believe one question asks about sewer pipes being at correct depth to collect sewage from all properties. I'm sure if the MPCA were told what was happening here, they woudl get involved.

And file a complaint with the Minnesota Licensing Board for Engineers.

When the local people wont do what is right, after many, many requests, its then time to go to those who can force them to do what they should be doing.

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 13 2015,1:50 pm

As much as I hate what the City of Albert Lea has done to this small neighborhood when it comes to almost 40 years of flooding from storm sewage and a history of flooding the same area with raw sewage still leaves me hesitant to contact the Pollution Control Agency.. The City could lose funding from the State of Minnesota and the U.S. Federal Government that is much needed to make sure our City gets the advantages of other Cities.. If they knew what the City of Albert Lea has been doing for decades to a portion of this City, we could lose much needed funding and still this portion of the City would surely go without the needed improvements..

:dunno:

Posted by was1 on Nov. 16 2015,7:58 am

what state and federal funding are they receiving now? As far as I know, last federal funding they received was back when the sanitary sewer treatment plant was built. And other than their annual Municipal State Aid Streets Funding that they get, I dont know of any other state funding they have gotten.

Would love to know what funding they have received in the last decade that came from the state and the feds, and what they are going to be getting.

This is a perfect example of a project that they should be trying to get state and federal funding for!

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 16 2015,11:14 pm

I'll use a fitting analogy to describe the funding of the Pollution Control Agency.. I'm guessing much of the funding runs down hill from the Federal EPA to State PCA's and then to local governments, much like a sewer system..

I don't understand why it is so important for the City to cut corners or half-a$$ the replacement of City Utilities that are 70+ years old in this area..

Just do it right this time so there won't be any major issues for the next 70+ years.. :frusty:

All residents refused to install a City funded Grinder Pump System in there homes and are asking the City to just run the sewer properly like they did 70 years ago..

The residents now know the flooding caused by storm sewage is caused by an increase in demand by the City of Albert Lea that has been put on the Deficient Virginia Place Storm Sewer Lift Station and is the reason for a destroyed underground utility system in the area..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 17 2015,9:45 am

Good analogy, but the City does not receive any such funds.

Tell the MPCA and the State Licensing Board what is going on, and then you will see some corrective action. MPCA will require them to fix this mess and quite possibly will then provide some funding.

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 17 2015,1:48 pm

Albert Lea Tribune

Sag in sewer line to cause problems
Published 10:00am Friday, November 13, 2015

The installation of a new sewer manhole at the east/west connection on Virginia Place makes it more than just a sag in the sewer. This sag has been intentionally engineered by the city of Albert Lea to at least one foot below a proper slope from Virginia Place to James Avenue.

To correct the city of Albert Lea’s engineered sag would require a small lift station or pumping station for six properties because achieving a proper slope would require the manhole to be raised one foot above the sewer main that goes to South Virginia Place.

The city of Albert Lea has engineered a waste water sewer system that doesn’t even come close to meeting any minimum standards and puts residents at severe risk of thousands of gallons of raw sewage flooding the properties on South Virginia Place.

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...roblems >

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 17 2015,4:47 pm

The new pipe running east to the shoulder of Virginia Pl and heading to James Ave. is a 10-inch pipe..

If it is a 10-inch line going to James Ave the slope should be 9-inches over 268-feet..

If it is an 8-inch line going to James Ave the slope should be 12.9-inches over 268-feet..

I thought it was an 8-inch line when I checked the elevation last month..

The NEW 10-inch sewer line coming from S Virginia Pl is completely covered in the NEW manhole with sewage, meaning standing sewage is in the NEW line 65-feet down S Virginia Place.. This is unacceptable and will be reported..

Truly there isn't even a 4-inch slope from Virginia Place to James Ave.. There is no slope..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 18 2015,11:35 am

Is that the actual manhole section? Why are the pipe openings not at the bottom of the structure? Did the fiil the bottom up with concrete and pour in an invert? The line going out to the east should have been approximatley 0.1 feet lower than the inlet pipes, that is standard. And then the system should have had proper slope.

YOU CAN NOT INSTALL A NEW SEWAGE SYSTEM THAT FAILS AS PART OF THE DESIGN!!!!

That manhole is where all the solids are going to collect and then back things up. And, unfortunately, the most likely back up will be to the south since there is way less flow coming from that direction so the solids from the other lines will settle in that direction and block off that line.

Good Luck!

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 20 2015,6:25 am

(was1 @ Nov. 18 2015,11:35 am)

QUOTE

Yes it is the actual manhole that has been modified.. Its like a little septic tank..

A request to Al Brooks, Mike Lee, Steven Jahnke and Chris Lowe has been submitted for the name, address and phone numbers of the general contractor and sub-contractors that installed the sanitary sewer on Virginia Pl.

Also for a copy of the plans for the sewer install on Virginia Pl from 5th St to 7th St..

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 20 2015,10:02 am

Getting some gravel today.. :clap:

Thought my gravel road days were over..

Posted by Common Citizen on Nov. 20 2015,10:12 am

I can't help but notice the high level management meeting going on in the background to decide who gets the shovel and who gets the rake. :rofl:

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 20 2015,1:00 pm

(Common Citizen @ Nov. 20 2015,10:12 am)

QUOTE

I can't help but notice the high level management meeting going on in the background to decide who gets the shovel and who gets the rake. :rofl:

They didn't know how to use a left-handed shovel or rake.. :laugh:

Not a single reply from local leaders regarding contractors list or a copy of the sewer install plans.. :dunno:

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 21 2015,5:04 pm

Thank you County Commissioner Mike Lee for forwarding my request to City Manager Chad Adams.. :thumbsup:

All the sewage from these area's go east across Virginia Pl(arrow) to the sanitary sewer lift station at 6th and St. Johns Ave.. A sanitary sewer backup at Virginia Pl would be devastating..

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 21 2015,10:02 pm

YOU CAN NOT INSTALL A NEW SEWAGE SYSTEM THAT FAILS AS PART OF THE DESIGN!!!!

-was1-

Posted by was1 on Nov. 24 2015,7:43 am

It’s too bad the City lied (well at least misled) everyone on this project when they originally said that the project would be completed this year, with bituminous. My guess is they barely got the gravel down before you all got some bad weather.

I hope someone from the City has contacted you regarding this by now. I still strongly suggest that you take this to the MPCA and the MN state licensing board for engineers. If how the manhole was installed is in the plans, than the MPCA approved them and they can explain to you why they would allow for a sanitary sewer system to be designed to FAIL. If it is not in the plans, then they can discuss with the City why they submitted one set of plans that were approved, and then built something else.

This kind of incompetence needs to stop at this City. It’s been going on for years. I hope everyone who lives on this project, even those on the upper end of the project that are not affected by this sewer issue, all go to the City Council meetings to complain about this until it is corrected and done right. You’re not going to go to your mechanic to get your car fixed, to only have him kind of fix it in a way that everyone knows is going to fail, so why would you have that done with your CITY SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM?!?!?!

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 24 2015,8:37 am

(Sent to Ulland Brothers 11-24-2015)

Hi,

The new 10-inch sanitary sewer pipe running east to the shoulder of Virginia Pl and then to James Ave. was installed improperly at the manhole.. Isn't Ulland Brothers held to a higher standard?

If it is a 10-inch line going to James Ave the slope should be 9-inches over 268-feet..

If it is an 8-inch line going to James Ave the slope should be 12.9-inches over 268-feet..

I thought it was an 8-inch line when I checked the elevation last month..

The new sewer line coming from S. Virginia Pl was raised 2-feet, 12-inches below a proper slope transition from the inlet to the outlet at the new manhole... The outlet was also installed 4-inches above the inlet..

The new 10-inch sewer line coming from S Virginia Pl is completely covered in the new manhole with sewage, meaning standing sewage is in the new line 65-feet down S Virginia Place.. This is unacceptable and must be corrected..

I sure would like to know what standards allow a new sewer system to have a negative slope that puts residents at serious risk of thousands of gallons of raw sewage flooding the properties on south Virginia Pl..

Does Ulland Brothers consider this an acceptable installation?

Posted by Self-Banished on Nov. 24 2015,11:37 am

I love watching this thread and I'm cheering for Alky but if he keeps this up he's gonna have to hire a food taster.

Posted by Glad I Left on Nov. 24 2015,1:41 pm

I hear ya SB. This has been an entertaining thread and I'm glad ALCI has stuck to his guns and is keeping the City's feet to the fire. I'm no civil engineer (I'm an RF engineer) but from what I gather by reading this thread is that he has done his homework and is asking the right questions. Feels like to me the homeowners on Virginia Place are a getting a raw deal. That's not right.

Posted by was1 on Nov. 24 2015,3:24 pm

Did Ulland's do the underground work or was that sub'ed out? Either way, unfortunately, if they built it to plan or how they were directed in the field by the engineering staff, I don't think they can be held liable for anything.

Real problem is with the Engineering staff for allowing this. Anyone there who has a PE should be ashamed of themselves and should voluntarily turn in their license to practice engineering.

I was confused on your elevations. Are you saying that the outlet flowline is 4 inches above the inlet flowline? If that is the case, I say fire everyone involved from the City on that project. NO excuse, none what-so-ever for something that wrong. Especially on a project that has been discussed, and worked on for all of 15 years.

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 25 2015,3:07 am

General Contractor Ulland Brothers won the contract for the complete reconstruction of 5th St and Virginia Pl for approximately $2.1 million..

If the City told Ulland Brothers to install an illegal landfill under the street, is it the obligation of Ulland Brothers to install such a landfill? Not if it violates every standard in the book or state law..

The General Contractor is paid to improve the values of the properties with improvements, not to decrease the value of the properties with the threat of severe damage to those properties from the actions taken by that General Contractor..

Every General Contractor carries the full responsibility and obligation to make sure all employee's and sub-contractors do not take actions that will possibly harm those who are funding the improvements..

If they hurt the Virginia Pl property owners, they hurt every property owner in the City of Albert Lea..

Ulland Brothers has not answered the simple question:
Does Ulland Brothers consider this an acceptable installation?

Engineers' Creed
As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare. I pledge: To give the utmost of performance; To participate in none but honest enterprise; To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct; To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations. In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.

Posted by alcitizens on Nov. 25 2015,5:03 am

(Glad I Left @ Nov. 24 2015,1:41 pm)

QUOTE

Thanks SB and GIL for the support.. It really means alot.. :thumbsup:

I also have to say thanks to my coach for the support, was1..

Posted by was1 on Nov. 25 2015,3:03 pm

I'm guessing that Ulland has been told to not say anything, or has been questioning the City too.

The GC is hired by the City, not the individual residents, they only need to answer to them. They are hired to install per plan or as directed in the field. They are not responsible for the design. If they installed something incorrectly that they did not follow plan or field direction, then they would have some skin in the game. I still say this falls squarely in the lap of the City Engineer/Director of Public Works.

If you continue to get no responses from the City (Engineer, Manager, Mayor, Council) then it is time to go to the media. Get the fish wrap to do an article on this and see if they can get answers from the City. Get the TV media in on the fun. Nothing better than watching the 6PM news while eating dinner with the family and be shown a brand new manhole with standing sewage in it.

Then file a complaint with the MPCA and with the state engineering licensing board. Here is the link to file a complaint with them: http://mn.gov/aelslagid/complaints.html

Good luck, keep on it, and have a Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by was1 on Dec. 02 2015,12:18 pm

Did you ever get a response from Ulland or the City?

Posted by Glad I Left on Dec. 02 2015,1:14 pm

(was1 @ Nov. 25 2015,3:03 pm)

QUOTE

If you continue to get no responses from the City (Engineer, Manager, Mayor, Council) then it is time to go to the media. Get the fish wrap to do an article on this and see if they can get answers from the City.

Like the AL Fishwrap will do any investigative stories into anything that goes in that town/county.

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 03 2015,1:34 am

(was1 @ Dec. 02 2015,12:18 pm)

QUOTE

Did you ever get a response from Ulland or the City?

Nothing from Ulland Brothers.. The City has offered the plans for the project for $66.00.. I will be contacting them tomorrow to arrange a time to pick them up along with a copy of the 2002 feasibility report for the reconstruction of Virginia Pl and 5th St..

MPCA is looking into the matter..

A complaint has been mailed to Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design against Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke..

I didn't want to do it but I had no choice..

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 04 2015,11:40 pm

The City worked until 7:30 tonight..

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 07 2015,5:05 am

(was1 @ Nov. 24 2015,3:24 pm)

QUOTE

I was confused on your elevations. Are you saying that the outlet flowline is 4 inches above the inlet flowline? If that is the case, I say fire everyone involved from the City on that project. NO excuse, none what-so-ever for something that wrong. Especially on a project that has been discussed, and worked on for all of 15 years.

Yes!

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 07 2015,2:49 pm

SSMH 2 spec's not listed at red arrow.. No inlets anywhere??

Nothing??

Sanitary Sewer Man Hole 2..

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 07 2015,6:34 pm

I could not be more pi$$ed off than I am right now.. How stupid can a City Engineer be or even shady as to claim there is a frikin slope going east at this manhole..

He can modify what was said in the 2002 Feasibility Report shown below but it doesn't change the fact he installed a frikin FAILURE of a sewer system.. He's is a complete frikin joke and should be FIRED..

I can't stand a liar but a frikin liar that is also shady makes me see RED..
City Engineer Steven Jahnke needs to be FIRED.. He created a sewer that will backup instead of fixing it.. :hairpull:

County and City Leaders need see what taxpayer dollars are paying for..

Sewage doesn't run uphill..

2002 Feasibility Report by City Engineer David R. Olsen

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 07 2015,6:58 pm

This is the goofy bullcrap version done by City Engineer Steven Jahnke.. :crazy:

Lies..

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 07 2015,8:42 pm

No standing sewage on Newton Ave. and No standing sewage on James Ave..

Where is the Sag? :dunno:

The Brand New sewer system costing 100's of thousands of dollars located between Newton Ave and James Ave with standing sewage covering the inlet from S Virginia Pl and making it so crap has to climb 4-inches in the manhole to get to the pipe that flows to James Ave is the phucking sag..

Solids will eventually fill nearly half of the inlet coming from S Virginia Pl and tapering for 25 feet down Virginia Pl and backup into homes..

This is a negative slope(falls backwards) meaning it takes 1-foot of sewage at Virginia Pl to drain 1-inch at James Ave..

Jahnke thinks we're all Morons!! :finger:

Posted by was1 on Dec. 08 2015,7:39 am

I’m sorry it’s gotten so bad. I am glad that you are keeping on this, there is no excuse for what they are doing.

Even in the current version of the feasibility report they note the deficiency and what needs to be done to correct it, yet they chose to do something that they know would fail and was not correct. Sad.

I really hope the MPCA is looking into it and does something to the City to make them correct it. And if that is how the City Engineer is responding to things and dealing with this issue, I hope the Licensing Board also gets involved.

That is the ugliest page of plans I’ve ever seen. The plan view looks like it is just a removal page, but the profile has some install info it looks like. There should be a separate page for the new sanitary going in and a separate page for the new storm so a contractor can actually see what is going on and be able to build it. Check and see what the title of this page was in the title block and see if there is another one for just the sanitary sewer.

I hope someone owns up to this and gets things corrected, before someone has a sewage backup.

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 10 2015,5:48 pm

City Engineer Steve Jahnke knows a sanitary sewer lift station is needed for 6 properties.. To him the threat to the City is cheaper than the improvement..

Immunity only goes so far for these scumbags.. Especially before the known catastrophe ever happens.. :blush:

Posted by was1 on Dec. 11 2015,9:55 am

Originally when it was designed and installed it must have been done right and worked without lift station. Now they cant figure out how to do that? Something is really wrong with this situation.

Any follow up by MPCA or licensing board?

Push the media to cover this insanity and waste of tax payer money!

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 11 2015,10:37 am

Jahnke admitted that the hump on Broadway was totally designed by MNDot..

The original sag was 3 feet and they can't raise the line anymore than 2 feet without putting in a lift station or they put residents at severe risk of the sewer flooding their properties..

The area sank 1 foot from all the storm sewer flooding over the decades..

Posted by Glad I Left on Dec. 11 2015,11:07 am

This really is a load of feces what they are knowingly doing. Really really sad.

Posted by was1 on Dec. 15 2015,7:39 am

I bet if Jahnke, or any of his staff, or any of the council lived down there, this would not be happening. I bet the situation would have been solved years ago and solved properly.

They all should go. Jahnke should resign if he cant do his job propertly, and the council and mayor should all resign for failure to do their duty . . . better their community and provide ALL residents with FUNCTIONING basic municipal services!

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 17 2015,10:40 am

The investigation has begun.. I will not say anymore until I get results.. I hope you all understand..

Posted by Glad I Left on Dec. 17 2015,10:49 am

YAY! Great news! Keep us posted when you can!

Posted by was1 on Dec. 21 2015,7:42 am

Sad to hear that it had to come to this for the City to hopefully finally correct this issue. I hope it fully gets looked into and corrected, and the reasoning why they did what they did is explained.

Keep us posted as much as possible. Hope it all gets fixed.

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 23 2015,1:02 am

The City of Albert Lea lied in the Court of Law by claiming:

Respondents purchased their home in 1987 from a resident who decided not to relocate.

CHRISTOPHERSON v. CITY OF ALBERT LEA

< http://caselaw.findlaw.com/mn-court-of-appeals/1043968.html >

Christopherson lived at 1208, a property that was NOT eligible to relocate..

< http://radaris.com/p/Karrie/Christopherson/ >

Posted by was1 on Dec. 29 2015,3:51 pm

So, in 1975 a study said the level of I&I was easier to deal with than to improve the collection system to reduce the I&I, and 40 years later that is to be assumed that is still the case? Because in the past 40 years the collection system has not continued to degrade and allow even more I&I to enter the system?

I find the fact that 40 years ago a study was done on the system and how to deal with I&I, and that same report is being used for decisions today. That should have been long ago updated. When that sanitary sewer system was installed, the life expectancy of it was probably 50 years. It is well beyond that. A portion of the sewer bills should be dedicated to maintaining and replacing the aging infrastructure when it needs it. This area has long needed it, and now they are not even fixing it correctly to remedy the problems.

I hope the “investigation” finds something that then forces the City to make properly engineered and constructed changes to correct the mess they have created.

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 30 2015,1:17 am

2002 Feasibility Report

Infiltration

Posted by alcitizens on Dec. 31 2015,8:51 pm

^ Sanitary Sewage being pumped into the Storm Sewer.. :;):

Posted by was1 on Jan. 07 2016,12:49 pm

They have pumped millions of gallons out of the sanitary and into the storm for decades whenever there are large rain events. They seem to think it is easier/better to do that and to improve the crumbling and leaking sanitary sewer infrastructure.

How many 100's of miles of old, clay tile, sanitary main is in that collection system? Replaceing these what, 6 blocks or so, is not even a drop in the bucket. How many miles of the old clay tile drain to this area? That all needs to be fixed, as well as further making sure homes and businesses do not have their sump pumps directed to the sanitary system.

They also need to take on a smoke testing program to check for other drain areas that could be tied into the sanitary system, such as: building drain tiles, building roof drains, area drains, and their own storm sewer system.

But really, none of that matters if they DO NOT EVEN DESIGN THE SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM TO FUNCITION TO BEGIN WITH!

Hope the "investigation" is moving along and something will be done to resolve the problem.

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 08 2016,2:07 am

2002 Feasibility Report

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 08 2016,2:17 am

2015 Feasibility Report by City Engineer Steven Jahnke, PE..

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 12 2016,4:37 am

I want the City to bore a new sanitary sewer line from Newton Ave to the 6th St and St John sanitary sewer lift station.. Then I want them to reconstruct the lift station at this location deeper..

City of Albert Lea ASSESSMENT POLICY

i. Sanitary Sewer
When the existing sanitary sewer needs to be replaced due to a deteriorated state, the
City shall have the system replaced. The City has a responsibility to maintain
sanitary sewer service to its existing customers. Because of this, the City will bear
the cost of the sewer replacement.

< http://cityofalbertlea.org/pdfs/AssessmentPolicy.pdf >

Posted by was1 on Jan. 12 2016,8:52 am

Have you made a formal request for this? (I'm guessing you have). Get your neighbors to go with you to every council meeting and all speak on this until it is resolved.

Has any of the news agencies looked into this at all? Get the paper to do some stories on this.

Any movement yet on the "investigation"?

Good luck. hopfully something gets done right.

Posted by was1 on Jan. 18 2016,12:24 pm

Stables area sewer and water included in Governors Bonding Bill. The following is from the Trib.

QUOTE

District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, said she is happy the governor included the project in his water quality and infrastructure plan.
“Wastewater treatment and drinking water infrastructure are vital to cities throughout the state like Albert Lea and are expensive to build, upgrade and operate,” Bennett said. “This type of project is a good example of an essential priority that impacts both the local and state levels.”

How about getting money in the bonding bill for fixing the failed existing CITY sanitary sewer on Virginia? Do the current citizens of Albert Lea, who have paid City Property Taxes for years, paid their sewer and water bill for years, which should include funds for the eventual replacement when they fail, not matter as much as people living in the stables area who do not pay all that? (I honestly don’t know if that area is part of the City of Albert Lea now or not, which would affect if they are paying city taxes or not).

It’s great that something got include in the bonding bill, it’s sad that the sewer issue, which has been going on for 40 year on Virginia Place was not even asked for. For 40 years the city has been saying it is too expensive to fix and there is no money for it, yet, they don’t even put it in a bonding bill request.

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 19 2016,2:42 am

I have a brand new 10-inch gravity sanitary sewer line right outside in the street that runs to a brand new manhole that was designed by City Engineer Steven Jahnke.. Even he admits that he designed it to FAIL..

Jahnke offering a city funded Grinder Pump System to go with this new oversized sanitary sewer line is clearly admitting to guilt..
Backups happening for decades and now of all times they offer a grinder pump system to connect to the new sanitary sewer.. :dunce:

The sanitary sewage that crosses Virginia Pl comes from nearly 100 homes and businesses, not just S Virginia Pl..

This issue should have been a priority long ago and yet local government officials still choose to spend the money elsewhere..

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 19 2016,11:10 am

A simple cost effective way to eliminate the sag in the sanitary sewer line between Newton Ave. and James Ave and greatly reduce the infiltration from storm sewer flooding and sanitary sewer backups into properties in the area..

If the sanitary sewer line at the east side of the 1121 Newton Ave property line has an elevation of approximately (1208-feet 4-inches) above sea level, this plan will work and it will also save the City 10s of thousands of dollars over boring a new line from Newton Ave to the 6th St and St John sanitary sewer lift station and then reconstructing the lift station deeper..

1201 Virginia Pl would require a grinder pump system..

If possible, lining the old sewer running under the house would add life to that section of pipe..

The circles are manholes..

1116 James Ave is City owned and the house no longer exists..

Posted by irisheyes on Jan. 19 2016,1:42 pm

Quick question, what are you using to add arrows and circles to your photos? I've seen you do this before in this thread and I have a hell of a time finding decent software that's easy to use on my laptop.

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 20 2016,12:24 am

(irisheyes @ Jan. 19 2016,1:42 pm)

QUOTE

Freeborn County Assessor/ Online Property Search (Beacon)

Its a bitch and I still struggle with it for maps.. I would rather use the old PAINT included with Microsoft..

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 20 2016,10:06 pm

Let me be clear that I don't want to be doing this crap.. In a perfect world we would trust the word of an engineer like the City Council has always done but I have seen those words falsified by the City Engineer.. Figures of $20 million for a project that can be accomplished for $2 million.. To bore a new sanitary sewer line and reconstruct a sanitary sewer lift station when low cost alternatives are available.. It makes me question both his integrity and his intentions for elevated costs on projects and for proposing the impossible.. Either way the projects that need to be done will not get done because of his word only.. This sh!t needs to change..

A storm sewer forcemain is a pressurized system that has to go through a pump after going through a screen to remove any large items.. So why would the City Engineer say a 24-inch forcemain that is pumping 15,000 gallons of storm sewage per minute would require manholes just in case the line ever plugged?

Plugged with what for God's sake.. :frusty:

Posted by was1 on Jan. 21 2016,10:49 am

Since the sewer was originally designed to flow from Newton to James what you are proposing should work and should have been something the City looked at as soon as they discovered the sag issue. Putting in a new line in that alignment, correcting the sag, would cost very little as it does not require any additional street restoration. And since you are saying 1116 James is gone, then there is no hangup to replacing that line.

I really do not understand the blind eye the city is using on this project. Fix the problem and do it right. The Citizens should not have to put up with this, and they really should not have to be the engineer for the project.

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 27 2016,9:59 am

Capital Improvement Plan 2016-2020

TH65(Broadway Ave) to 6th and St John Sewer Line Replacement $350,000 in 2017.. (Sewer Fund)

Virginia Place Storm Water Sewer System Study $50,000 in 2018.. (General Budget Fund & Shell Rock River Watershed, 50/50 split)

< http://cityofalbertlea.org/wp-content/uploads/CIP-2016-2020.pdf >

Posted by was1 on Jan. 27 2016,10:51 am

those should have been done prior to the Virginia work.

So, how long will they be in the CIP before they are actually done? Virginia was what, 15 years?

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 27 2016,7:22 pm

(was1 @ Jan. 27 2016,10:51 am)

QUOTE

those should have been done prior to the Virginia work.

So, how long will they be in the CIP before they are actually done? Virginia was what, 15 years?

The City Engineer already knows that the only way to correct the storm sewer flooding from Broadway Ave to Frank Ave is with a 24-inch Forcemain(6th St Plan)..

Now the replacement of the sanitary sewer next year from Broadway Ave to 6th St and St John tickles my toes and like you say it should have been done prior to the Virginia Pl reconstruction, but as of September 22 when the City Engineer told me "that line isn't going to be replaced, you need a grinder pump system" he has made a quick change in his position..

We are making progress.. :thumbsup:

Posted by alcitizens on Jan. 28 2016,1:11 pm

QUOTE

The storm water leaves the Virginia Place lift station in a 18” forcemain that runs east on 7th Street. It switches to gravity sewer and eventually ends up in a 54” storm sewer which outlets to Albert Lea Lake between 9th and 10th street.

Where it switches to a gravity sewer can't handle an additional 10,000 gallons per minute from the Virginia Place storm water lift station during heavy rain events.. The storm sewer in the Frank Ave area was designed to handle their own storm sewage and about half the amount coming from the Virginia Place lift station..

The Virginia Place lift station is responsible for flooding S. St John Ave, S. Frank Ave and Edina Ave during heavy rainfall..

Posted by was1 on Feb. 24 2016,8:48 am

any new updates? how did things hold up so far this winter?

Posted by alcitizens on Feb. 25 2016,11:32 am

We need to wait and see what the City does next..

We need to wait and see what comes from the still active investigation and to see the results from the Evaluation of Virginia Pl & 5th St. Storm Sewer System that appears to be in the 2016 Budget(Part 3, Page 10)..

< http://cityofalbertlea.org/wp-content/uploads/2016_Budget_71-106.pdf >

Posted by alcitizens on Feb. 25 2016,11:49 am

I also want a video of the sanitary sewer service line connected to 1201 Virginia Pl for a possible improper installation.. They have been asked once with no results..

This would help the City to getting closer to achieving their goals..

< http://cityofalbertlea.org/2016-budget/ >

Posted by was1 on Feb. 26 2016,8:35 am

They've known about the storm water issue for what, 35 years, and are not going to evaluate it, after they've done total reconstruction in the area. So, when they realize that they need to do major changes with the storm at the lift station, they'll have to dig up some of what they just installed. Good use of tax payer money there.

What is the concern of improper service installation on your sewer? If you have a concern and request it, City should check on it, especially during a construction project.

Posted by alcitizens on Feb. 26 2016,8:56 pm

I'm hoping corrections will be made prior to the completion of the reconstruction..

I can't tell from this picture where the connection was made to the main sewer line.. The connection should be in the top third of the main pipe.. Dirt appears to have been pulled over the connection(Circle) to possibly hide it.. Too low of a connection can cause a blockage in the main..

Posted by was1 on Feb. 29 2016,8:07 am

Really can not tell anything from the photo.

Standard practice is that the mains are videoed after installation, with a report noting all service locations. You should be able to get a copy of the report and video, or be allowed to go in and view the video to see connection point for your lateral.

Typically if the connection is in the lower 1/2 of the main its not much of a concern. But that is when the main is the correct size and at an adequate slope. Unfortunately your main is improperly over sized to allow for a flatter slope, and there is very little flow in that main. All major concerns for the solids to settle out and not be moved through the pipe with the water from homes. This is becoming a larger concern these days due to all the water conservation efforts (low flow showers, toilets that use very little water per flush, etc.).

Good luck.

Posted by alcitizens on Mar. 12 2016,10:38 pm

Posted by was1 on Mar. 14 2016,8:09 am

Doesn't really tell you anything.

Posted by alcitizens on Mar. 19 2016,10:24 pm

Selective neglect by Steven Jahnke PE is on record.. Considering another complaint..

Why would the City do a Mill and Overlay on 6th St this year prior to replacing the sanitary sewer from Broadway to 6th and St John Ave that involves reconstructing the lift station deeper next year?

Start at 53:00 minute mark..

< View on YouTube >

Posted by was1 on Mar. 22 2016,8:58 am

Not correcting a storm and sanitary sewer issue, that has caused flooding and sewage backing up into basements for 40 years is NOT selective neglect. That is complete incompetence!

And so is doing a mill and overlay on a road that will have underground work done on it the following year. Who is running things at that city? I would like to laugh at the incompetence, but it is so bad, it makes me cry. I really feel for everyone living not only in your neighborhood that is getting shafted, but everyone in that entire city.

Wow, just WOW.

Posted by alcitizens on Mar. 22 2016,11:46 am

TH65(Broadway Ave) to the 6th St. and St. John Sanitary Sewer Lift Station in 2017..

< http://cityofalbertlea.org/wp-content/uploads/CIP-2016-2020.pdf >

Posted by alcitizens on Mar. 22 2016,2:10 pm

Lets reflect on the past comments by Steven Jahnke P.E. when it comes to the storm sewer flooding from Broadway Ave to Frank Ave..

Jahnke said the reconstruction project does not resolve the flooding concerns in the area, but that flooding would likely still happen in the event of heavy rains. To solve the problem, the capacity at the lift station in that area would have to be doubled or tripled in size and the storm sewer line on every street from Virginia Place to Albert Lea Lake would have to be reconstructed.

< http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015...project >

:rofl:

Double or tripled in size. :rofl:

Reconstructed on every street. :rofl:

Doubled would be 1,200,000 gallons per hour and tripled would be 1,800,000 gallons per hour..

The current lift station on Virginia Pl pumps around 600,000 gallons per hour..

My proposed 6th St Plan would remove 900,000 gallons per hour and along with the MnDOT improvement that I got done in 2015 will put us on track for a flooding situation once every 10 years instead of 3 to 5 times every single phucking year..

Not to mention that my proposed 24-inch forcemain can be increased to over 18,000 gallons per minute in the future if needed..

City Engineer Steven Jahnke P.E. is full of sh!t..

Not $4 to $10 million or $20 million.. Only $2.1 million or Less..

Posted by alcitizens on Mar. 22 2016,11:24 pm

Anyone that knows me can nominate me for the MAYOR’S MEDAL OF HONOR for improving the quality of life for residents that have only known a home that will be flooded or have their sewer backup.. Their chances of a disaster has been greatly reduced with a little effort on my part and from my supporter.. Thank you was1, I will always cherish what we accomplished together..

Now its time for our leaders to do their part and finish the unfinished business for the people they represent and for the community as a whole..

Does anyone think Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. will award me the MAYOR’S MEDAL OF HONOR? :rofl:

Here is the nomination form for sh!ts and giggles:

< http://newdev3.cityofalbertlea.net/wp-cont...orm.pdf >

Salute..

Posted by was1 on Mar. 24 2016,7:55 am

Glad I was of some help to you. I really don't like when people who are charged with doing good for all and are to be doing all they can to better the infrastructure for all do not do that. Sadly, City Engineers/Directors of Public Works have to answer to City Managers and Mayors and Councilors. They don't always have the backbone to standup to them and tell them when what they and "political" people want or think is right is actually wrong and should be done differently. They (political) are always looking out for themselves it seems these days, not for THE PEOPLE.

Your idea on how to improve the lift station and outlet pipe is a prime example of thinking outside the box that the City Engineer has been trapped in. Sadly he and the others do not want to either 1) admit they are wrong, 2) admit that someone else could possibly have an idea of an alternative solution, or 3) are just to dumb to realize what needs to be done.

I hope things do get FULLY corrected there, and that some true engineering, asset management and planning start to happen so the best use of the tax payers money is occurring. Get the worst things fixed, in the best way, at the best value to the citizens.