City and county discuss sewer in Silver Creek

Talk about it

The Two Harbors City Council, Lake County Board and Silver Creek Township Board went into a deep discussion Tuesday on whether or not the city would extend their city water and sewer systems to the first tunnel on Highway 61.

County Commissioner Rich Sve said Silver Creek had a volunteer study of sewer systems eight to 10 years ago and many of the systems were not in the best of shape.

Also in the past, an ordinance was passed requiring a parcel of land to have a sewer system, plus an alternate site for an additional one. Many of the newer homes in that area have met these prerequisites, but some of older ones don’t due to lack of space.

Two Harbors could extend its sewer and water systems to that area or the Silver Creek sewer system area could revert to a pond system like Castle Danger.

Sve said he believed there was land for a pond system, but he didn’t know where the funds would come from.

Some of the city-extended sewer system project could be be paid for by a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant which would be used for a transportation project in that area. It could possibly be implemented in with the sewer project.

Commissioner Brad Jones said they should not be pressured by an Aug. 14 deadline date to get the TIGER grant in, hinting there could be other ones available in the future.

If the project were to get funding, certain things in the city would need to happen.

“It would be a good project if we annex it in,” said City Councilor Mary Henjum Rosati.

Councilor Steve Detlefsen said the city would need to change its bylaws to accept sewer and waste out of city limits. It currently doesn’t.

The group, which consists of the city council, county board and Silver Creek Township Board, will meet next week.

In other meeting news:

- The county board and city council also discussed the possible broadband project for Lake County. It was requested, that the council have a letter of support for the project. The city of Silver Bay signed its letter of support Monday.

Mayor Randy Bolen said he would like a presentation on the topic before the council passes a letter of support.

Tags: two harbors, silver creek, news, sewer