City Council weighs whether to drop lawsuit over phosphorus limits

At its Monday meeting, the Glencoe City Council heard reviews from Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc., (SEH) about the possibility of Glencoe receiving the Point Source Implementation Grant (PSIG) with the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) for $7 million for phosphorus-related project costs.
The review also included the possible rate structures that would be required to fund debt service for the wastewater treatment plant expansion and the pre-design activities that must take place before any construction begins.
Currently, the city of Glencoe has a contested case lawsuit with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) over permitted phosphorus levels. The administration met with the MPCA to discuss the possibility of moving ahead with improvements for the wastewater treatment plant and what the city would have to do with the lawsuit to make that happen.
“It could mean significant dollars — maybe $5 million  or more — that we could receive from the state through this new legislation if we were to step away from the lawsuit,” said Mayor Randy Wilson. “We have to weigh what is the best for the citizens of Glencoe overall. Right now, it looks like it might be wise to step away from the lawsuit, but on the other hand, in some ways we’ve gained a lot over the years because we are seeing changes in the requirements.”
 

Read the full story in the July 19 edition of The McLeod County Chronicle.