Silver Bay City Council Meeting; March 6, 2023
Joe Rhein and Darek Benoy, from Bolton & Menk, appeared before the City Council on Monday night to talk about a Stormwater Management Plan for the city of Silver Bay. The purpose of the presentation was to inform the Council about a recent study that has been done so that Council members can gain understanding of how the current drainage system is working, can prioritize maintenance and replacement of aging infrastructure, and can consider water quality improvements for the city.
Some of the city’s drainage infrastructure is reaching the end of its life expectancy. There are sections of metal culvert that are deteriorating and there is concern that with the increased amount of rainfall we are experiencing, the current system will be beyond its capacity to adequately handle the City’s wastewater needs. NOAA, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has projected increased rainfall amounts in the future due to climate change and updating the city’s wastewater system with larger diameter culverts and other improvements will reduce the possibility of flooding. The addition of hydrodynamic separators will help remove sediments and trash from the system and will improve water quality in the area.
The management plan that Rhein and Benoy presented is detailed in scope with regard to best practices for stormwater management. For now, the City Council’s task is to study the draft report so that pertinent questions can be asked and informed decisions can be made moving forward. The Stormwater Management Plan will be up for further discussion at the next City Council meeting in two weeks.
The City is looking to recruit part-time employees for the summer and is seeking volunteers to serve as campground hosts. In addition, the City is looking to recruit and hire a full-time police officer. The Council approved postings for these positions.
Finally, the Council adopted a consultant agreement with the Costin Group. The Costin Group has worked in government relations on behalf of the City and lobbies for Silver Bay in Saint Paul. The Costin Group is currently working with Senator Grant Hauschild and Representative Roger Skraba to secure funding for a number of local projects.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 20th at 7:00 PM.
