To comply with Albert Lea’s storm system requirements, Freeborn County staff will rework the sewer and storm drain system at the county fairgrounds.

Wednesday, April 18, 2001

To comply with Albert Lea’s storm system requirements, Freeborn County staff will rework the sewer and storm drain system at the county fairgrounds. But first they have to figure out where the pipes are, staff say.

The Board of Commissioners voted to get estimates on water and sewer line testing to locate and identify the lines, which have been patched under the purview of the fair board.

&uot;There are numerous lines in the fairgrounds that appear to have been cross-connected or misconnected in the past,&uot; Interim Administrator Darryl Meyer said.

Staff believe that some sanitary drains may be connected to storm sewer outlets, and not getting treated as sanitary waste, said Highway Engineer Sue Miller. Some storm water lines also appear to have been connected to sanitary sewer drains, but the county can’t tell for certain until testing of the system has been completed.

&uot;Nobody kept any records out there for 10 to 15 years,&uot; Miller said. &uot;So we don’t know where the tile lines are.&uot;

When doing drainage for the new Sheriff’s building last year, staff found a line that had not been mapped, said Building and Grounds Superintendent Randy Jensen. The line was capped and no longer used, but showed that sanitary waste had previously been run into the storm drain, he said.

A private contractor would use smoke, dyes or other equipment to locate the lines and create a digital base-map. After the system is identified, Miller and Jensen would develop a long-term capital improvement plan to repair any problems and properly connect the drains, Miller said.

Commissioner Dan Springborg said he is eager to see the problem fixed.

&uot;My constituents, their kids go down and play in the woods where these storm sewers run into,&uot; he said.

Chairman Dave Mullenbach said his constituents have also had problems with drainage in that area.

&uot;I think it’s an opportune time to do it now, so we can address the problems we have before we get into the fair season,&uot; Mullenbach said.