Monticello Moves Forward with Water Treatment Facility Plans

Monticello’s City Engineer and Public Works Director, Matt Leonard has been busy representing the City at the Minnesota Capitol, testifying for funding support to construct a water treatment facility.

On Tuesday, March 7 Leonard testified before the Senate Capital Improvement Committee in support of the funding outlined in bill SF 501 (Anderson), introduced by Sen. Bill Anderson (R-Buffalo) in January 2023.

The next day Leonard testified before the MN House of Representative’s Committee on Capital Investment. Leonard was supported by Rep. Marion O’Neill (R-Maple Lake), who introduced HF 746 (O’Neill) in January 2023.

Both bills seek $22 million for construction of a water treatment plant in Monticello and related water utility infrastructure to accompany the plant. The City is also seeking a $10 million grant from the federal congressionally directed spending. This request has been sent to Senator Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), and Congressman Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota).

Leonard was given 3 minutes to testify about the community and why we are seeking a water treatment plant. One of the primary reasons for the construction of a plant is the high levels of manganese in our drinking water.

About Manganese in Drinking Water

Manganese occurs naturally in drinking water and is found in rocks and soil. People need some to stay healthy, but too much can be harmful.

Scientists are still learning about the impacts of high levels of manganese in drinking water. Regulating agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to collect data to determine if future regulations are needed.

More attention was brought to manganese with the Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR4). As part of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act, every 5 years the EPA is required to issue a list of up to 30 unregulated contaminates that must be monitored by public water systems.

Manganese was included as one of the contaminates monitored between 2018 and 2020. The monitoring is intended to provide the basis for future actions to protect public health. The City of Monticello participated because we are a public water supply system serving a population greater than 10,000. 

In 2018 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) developed guidance levels for manganese in drinking water. However, public water systems are not required to meet these guidelines, and they are not required to treat drinking water for manganese since it is not a primary drinking water standard.

Based on ongoing testing, the City’s municipal water supply still meets all Safe Drinking Water Act standards, but the levels of manganese are higher than MDH’s guidance.

Since learning of the manganese levels in 2018, the City of Monticello has been actively working with the Minnesota Department of Health and other experts to pursue effective short and long-term options to reduce manganese levels.

What is the City Doing to Reduce Manganese in Drinking Water?

First, the City took the initial step to reduce manganese in drinking water by limiting the use of wells with higher levels.

In addition, we’ve provided public outreach to help educate the public about options to reduce manganese levels in individual households (please see additional info below). Our website, annual city newsletters, utility bill inserts, and annual water report all contain helpful information about manganese for our residents.

We encourage residents to use any of the options available, and we also take seriously our responsibility to find a citywide mitigation strategy. Based on a feasibility study, the best option is to construct a water treatment plant. The City intends to build the facility on a city-owned Chelsea Road parcel where there’s an existing well house and a 760,000 gallon below ground water reservoir. The estimated cost to construct a water treatment facility is $28 million.

Now, the City is seeking funding assistance for the facility, so the city isn’t relying only on local rate payers. Leonard noted in his testimony that equitable water treatment is at the forefront of this project. The City is prepared to invest funds in construction as well as ongoing operations and maintenance, but state funding assistance is vital to bringing this project to life as quickly as possible.

What Can Residents do to Reduce Manganese?

There are several options for filtering manganese out of your drinking water. Certain types of home water treatment devices remove or reduce manganese:

• A carbon filter
• Distilled water or a distillation system
• A reverse osmosis water system
• A water filtration system
• A water softener

Looking for more information?

• Helpful information about residential options for reducing manganese is available in this Minnesota Department of Health Handout and on our website: www.ci.monticello.mn.us/224/Manganese-in-Drinking-Water
• Also, the City’s Utility Department continues to regularly test our municipal water system to ensure levels meet the Safe Drinking Water Act standards. This information can be found in our Annual Water Reports which are shared each year in a utility bill and can be found on our website: www.ci.monticello.mn.us/204/Annual-Water-Reports

The proposed 2023 budget and property tax levy will be presented at a public hearing on December 12, 2022. It will begin with a short presentation followed by an opportunity for residents and property owners to comment and ask questions about the 2023 tax levy and budget. The public hearing is part of the regular City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Mississippi Room at the Monticello Community Center.

The proposed city levy of $12,050,000 represents a 6.1% increase (or $697,000) over the 2022 city levy. The HRA levy for 2023 is proposed at $402,000, or $14,000 (3.6%) more than 2022. The total combined levy amount is $12,452,000 or a 6.1% increase.

The impact of the proposed levy on individual properties was listed in the Truth-in-Taxation (TNT) notices sent by Wright County in November. Your notice shows changes to the levies, your property value, homestead exclusion, and any other changes to the tax base. New for the 2023 taxes payable year, local governments are required to report summary budget information with the TNT notices. Wright County compiled information from the County, City, and School District to include in a one-page insert. There’s a lot of information in a limited space, so property owners are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate jurisdiction with any questions on the summary information. Please note, the 2023 proposed budget information will not be final because we continue to refine it until the final budget is approved on December 12, 2022.

This year residential market values increased by an average of 20% over the prior year. As a result, residential taxpayers should expect to see an increase in their city property taxes that exceeds the percentage increase in the levy. City Council held several budget workshops over the summer of 2022 to discuss the city’s projected costs in light of the current economic environment and weighed budgetary needs with the associated tax burden on property owners in the community.

What are my Property Taxes used for?

 The property tax levy is used in four ways. About 1/3 of the funds are used to make the City’s debt payments, fund capital projects, and support the Monticello Community Center. The remainder of the levy is put into the General Fund.

The General Fund pays for city services like public safety, including the Fire Department and contract with Wright County Sheriff’s Office; snow and ice removal; and funding city departments like finance, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, and parts of public works. Overall, the tax levy helps us fund larger projects over time as well as complete our day-to-day operations on behalf of the public.

Preparing Your Home for Winter

Now that we’ve had a glimpse into winter, it’s a great time to make sure your home is prepared for the season! These five simple tips from the Department of Building Safety can save you money and time once the snow really begins to fly.  

1. Clean gutters and downspouts. While you’re hanging up your holiday lights, take the time to check your gutters, roof, and fascia for damage! Leaves and other debris can clog gutters. The debris can become wet and may hold moisture that can freeze when the temperature drops. This freeze-thaw cycle can damage the gutters, fascia, and roof. The debris may also result in overflows during thawing periods. The best time to clean the gutters is after the majority of the leaves have dropped from trees. Make sure the downspouts and any extensions are directed away from foundation since saturated soil increases the risk of damaging frost heave and/or leaks in the basement.  
2. Prepare exterior plumbing. Don’t forget to turn off the outdoor faucets using the interior shut-off valve and drain the water from the pipe to the exterior. Also, disconnect and drain garden hoses and sump pump discharge hoses. Hoses connected to the exterior of the home can freeze, and that freeze can follow the hose back into the wall and burst the pipe inside. Prevent this from happening by installing foam insulated faucet covers.  
3. Heating checkup. Have your furnace and fireplaces professionally serviced to ensure they are working at peak efficiency. Also, change the furnace filter. Make sure exterior openings are clean and clear. High efficiency furnaces use PVC vents and intakes that exit the exterior wall near ground level. Check for obstructions like grass clippings or vegetation that may have grown over, and make sure critters have not built nests in the unused vent. Also, check metal furnace vents that protrude through the roof. Chimneys and vents should have a UL listed metal rain cap that are in good repair and clear of debris. If the caps are missing or have damaged screening, check for nests and other debris. Inspect a wood burning fireplace to ensure there is a spark screen present and in good repair. Also, make sure the flue operates properly and the chimney is clean and clear—sweep if necessary.  
4. Check weather stripping. Visually inspect around doors and windows for worn or damaged weather stripping and seals. Ensure the door fits tightly and there are no gaps. Also, check that all windows operate and lock properly. If you have an older home with storm windows, remove the screens and install the storm windows. If the windows don’t seal well, try using a plastic window insulation kit. 
5. Fix cracks in concrete. Repair/patch any visible cracks on the driveway, your sidewalk, or foundation. Cracks can allow water to leak in and then freeze during the winter, causing further damage. There are numerous products available for sealing concrete, including squeeze bottles, and caulking guns for small jobs and bulk buckets for large ones.  

Don’t forget to wrap up your outdoor building permits (like roofing or residing permits) by scheduling final inspections. Call the Monticello Building Safety Department staff at 763-295-3060 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please have the permit number or address handy.  

•  Window replacement  
•  Decks