Fridley Council: No Ellison Update, but Tale of Sewer Snake

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) was not able to attend the Fridley City Council meeting Monday evening as planned.

City Manager William Burns said after the meeting at that Ellison was ill. Burns said the congressman's appearance before the council for a legislative update will be rescheduled for January.

Voting and Parking
The council meeting without Ellison's presentation was brief, but out of it came two important reminders for Fridley residents.

Dolores Varichak said she wanted to remind everyone to “do our duty and get out and vote” in the school board and two levy referenda Nov. 8. She noted that the only place to vote is the high school and that the general election precincts are not open for this one.

James Kosluchar, public works director, noted that winter parking restrictions went into effect Nov. 1 and continue until April. That means no on-street parking from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m.

Budget Adjustments
In other action, in its consent agenda and without discussion, the city council adjusted the 2011 budget by $178,103 in expenses and revenues.  A written report noted the adjustments arose from reclassification of account coding; various grants and donations; and unforeseen expenditures and revenues.

The change to the general fund was $43,968, mainly for police, fire and emergency management expenses. They will be funded by grants, donations and reimbursements.

A reappropriation for the Police Department of $47,094 was approved for expenses due to union contracts that were not included in the 2011 budget. Also included in the police department change was the expense of the response to the July 16 BNSF derailment.

Expenses for emergency services, clean-up and park repairs incurred because of the tornado that hit Fridley in May added Monday evening to the city budget were $63,574. FEMA is expected to reimburse the city for these.

The final budget change is to transfer $23,467 from the Fridley Community Center fund into the city’s general fund.

Sewer Snake
The council, in separate action, also approved a sanitary sewer project change order for an additional $12,397 for additional work outside the original contract for sewer main lining, according to the staff’s written report. 

Perhaps the most interesting work done as part of the change order was removing a sewer snake found obstructing a city sewer main. The snake was found when the contractor was doing a pre-lining check by television. The work to remove the snake cost $1,585.

The additional work included televising and cleaning a storm sewer pipe crossing West Moore Lake Drive near the Middle School. The cleaning and televising cost $1,690.

The intention had been to reline that storm sewer, but the sewer was not in a condition to allow a successful relining. The work was done later using an “open dig.”

Unexpected work on 330 feet of 8-inch sewer on 75th Avenue cost was $7,956. The work was necessary after failed joints in the piping were discovered on the 25-foot deep sewer main. The change order also included $1,166 to have the contractor clean a city sewer main of heavy roots that caused a backup into a residential basement on Channel Road.

The staff report stated city equipment was not immediately available to clean the city’s line and the contractor was performing work in the area. Because the contractor could respond quickly to clean the main, cleanup of the residence was minimized and backup into other homes may have been prevented.