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City reports emergency repair to sewer manhole taking on Lake Minnetonka water
Summary
City Administrator Jasper Krugel briefed the council on an emergency fix to a sewer manhole that was below Lake Minnetonka's ordinary high water line and was admitting lake water; staff are coordinating with insurer LMCIT and Public Works on a longer-term solution.
City Administrator Jasper Krugel told the Minnetrista City Council that staff made an emergency repair to a sewer manhole that had been taking on Lake Minnetonka water.
“That manhole was well below the ordinary high water line of the of Lake Minnetonka,” Krugel said, and staff “had to make an emergency fix” to stop inflow that increased wastewater volumes and treatment costs. Krugel said the top of the manhole has been raised above the waterline but that the property owner “does not care for that,” and staff are working with the city's insurer, LMCIT, and Public Works to find a solution that preserves access for cleaning without creating future insurance or backup risks.
Krugel said crews televised the line and that the pipe was installed in the 1970s with later modifications; he noted best practices call for sewer cleaning roughly every four years. “We're gonna try to find a solution,” Krugel said, adding that staff want to avoid actions that could create backups for neighboring properties. He reported there have been no backups so far and described the immediate problem as resolved.
No formal council action was required; staff will continue to coordinate a permanent solution with the property owner, the city's insurer and Public Works.
