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City Hears Water Woes
Published Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Residents from the Hilltop Drive area turned out at Monday’s city council meeting to share their frustration with low water pressure in their neighborhood.
“It really is a problem and it’s been a problem for a long time,” said Larry Greenquist, one of more than a dozen residents in attendance. “We would like to have adequate water pressure without having to buy pumps to...sprinkle our lawns and take a shower.”
City Engineer Dan Edwards said the pressure problem stems from the city’s hilly topography. To fix it would require not only the installation of a booster station or lift tank but additional water mains. A recent study of the Hilltop area found that such action would be too expensive for the number of homes it would benefit, Edwards said.
Residents said they’re frustrated no one told them about low pressure when they moved into their homes, and said the problem goes back as far as 30 years. It’s an issue of fairness, Greenquist said: Residents in the Hilltop neighborhood pay as much in taxes — if not more — as everyone else, so why should they go without the same pressure? The city plans to bring the issue back to a future committee meeting.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by jud (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live on South Cascade and our water pressure has gotten worse each year since we moved into our house in 1992. We live in a home built in the 1950s. At some point long before we moved in it had city water installed. When it was built it had a well. There was not a housing development to the west of us when we moved in. I'm wondering if the Lake Region Health Care could be affecting our pressure also. Why was a new water tower built out on Co. 27 when Woodland Heights doesn't even have city water? (I know their not in the city limits) . Was this built for the Veterans Home? (which I think is a wonderful asset to the city.) But what else is in that area? I feel LRHC and the new Mehl Center must in someway affect our pressure.
Posted by Geo (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is unfortunate the City and/or Council people were not more progressive in their thinking at the time the current water main system was installed. The comments that were made last night, by the City Council, shows they still lack the insight as what the issues are. One Council persons comment that the lots and homes are subpar shows a lack of concern for a large portion of the community. If these homes were built on subpar lots then why are the homes assessed at the same values and taxed at the same rate. I think this comment was quite ignorant for a person who claims to be representing our community. Those people who built new homes in the Hilltop area were not given any break on special assessments to bring in the water, sewer etc. The City can say there was never a plan to build a water tower on the south side of town but many residents can dispute this as it was discussion point for several years until the other water towers popped up on the north side of town. I also believe that if the City can look at a $600,000 plan to drain Pebble Lake, which would benefit only a few homeowners then the City can look at a plan to benefit a greater population for an extended period of time. Eventually Pebble Lake water levels will decrease, this may take a couple years, but there is no way to get increased water pressure naturally. If there is no hope for a better water pressure system then I would think the City would not allow for any more development in this area.
Posted by klingetb (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am curious about the council persons name that had these comments about the homes and lots being subpar and he/she should be recognized. In saying recognized I mean let everyone know his/her name so they will not get re-elected. I was unable to make it to the meeeting but also live on S. Cascade with 1 acre of land and live in a very nice house. We also just got done paying assesments from roadwork and sewer/ water lines being installed. Has the person even been out in the area we are talking about??? Apparently this person is making way to much money as a coucil person and should not be re-elected. We don't need judge mental people on our city council like this.
The Klingers
1803 S. Cascade
Fergus Falls MN
Posted by tippy98c (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is S. Cascade one of the higher elevations in FF?
Posted by jud (anonymous) on May 7, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The council member who is supose to represent that area is NOT doing his job. I was at the meeting and very impressed with the understanding and concern of Mr. Leland and Mr. Stumbo. Mr. Burt. have you visited and listened to residents of your ward?
Property to the east of S. Cascade is developing also.
Posted by klingetb (anonymous) on May 7, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks jud. Now I know who not to vote for.
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