Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montrose council discusses manganese testing, possible town-hall as treatment costs loom large
Summary
Council and staff debated holding a town-hall on manganese in drinking water; staff noted the scale of potential treatment ("30 to $40,000,000") and said manganese is not a mandated annual test item; voluntary home testing and mitigation approaches were described.
Council discussed resident concerns about manganese in the water supply and whether to convene a town-hall meeting with the Minnesota Department of Health. Staff said previous testing showed the water was safe to drink and that results and presentations are posted online, but council members and residents want clearer explanations of what a municipal treatment solution would cost and how it would affect taxes and rates.
One councilor noted the scale of potential treatment costs: "I mean, the only thing that's remaining the same here is that it's gonna cost 30 to $40,000,000," a council member said during the exchange. Staff offered voluntary home sampling to residents at no charge, clarified the city is not a certified lab and results are "ballpark" numbers, and recommended that if the council hosts a town-hall it take place when full council can attend and staff can present breakdowns of tax and rate implications.
