Rib Lake water is PFAs free; phosphorus levels bring headaches

Water in the village of Rib Lake does not have any measurable amount of the so-called forever chemicals the state began requiring testing for this year.

At the June 14 Rib Lake Village Board meeting, board members reviewed and approved the annual water quality report which showed that the water supply met state requirements and was free of PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl) as well as 18 other different chemicals.

“Everything looks peachy on the water side,” said Dan Koehler.

Things were less rosy on the wastewater treatment side as board members reviewed the compliance maintenance annual report (CMAR). This is an annual report card given to treatment plants in the state based on a variety of areas with influent and effluent levels.

“We had pretty much straight A’s except for phosphorus,” Koehler said. He explained that beginning in October of last year, the amount of phosphorus in the plant began to spike above the allowed threshold of one part per million.

“We were going over 1.1 ppm,” he said, noting they were in danger of being found in noncompliance of their operating permit which would have had potentially costly implications on village sewer customers.

Koehler said they began testing at manholes to see where the increase was coming from and treating at different parts in the system with alum to bring the phosphorus level down. “Our influent was the problem,” he said.

“It was coming in from the sewer system somewhere, we were unsure where,” he said.

As the village began testing at the manholes, and injecting alum at two locations, the phosphorus levels dropped to the point where the village was back in compliance.

Koehler noted that if the village was unable to get into compliance they would have been in danger of not getting a variance granted to allow any level of phosphorus. “Since mid-January we have been OK,” he said.

He noted that with using the alum, they were running the risk of making the sewer plant too acidic and that it could have negatively impacted the operation of the plant.

Board members voted to accept the CMAR. In other business, board members:

 Approved selling the village’s tractor-mounted snowblower. The blower fits on the city’s end loader and was previously used to blow snow into a truck to be hauled from the downtown. The village has not used it in several years as crews have changed how they remove the snow. “We can probably get a pretty good buck for it,” said board member Russ Bullis.

Clerk Kristin Lueck said they estimated the price based on similar models of it being between $1,300 and $2,000.

“There is no reason to hold onto it,” Bullis said. “We just don’t have the use for it,” he said.

 Approved awarding the crack sealing bid to Jensen Chip & Seal of Medford for $10,890. The other bid was from Sealtech of Cambridge, Minn. which bid $23,678.50.

 Approved giving a donation to the Ice Age Days committee for $1,100 out of the village’s tourism budget to help cover advertising costs for the annual festival which will be held August 11-13. This is an increase over the $1,000 given last year to reflect increased costs.

 Approved renewing the Insurance Deductible CD in an 11-month CD at Forward Bank at a rate of 4.3% when it becomes due.

 Tabled making a decision on putting a handicapped access button by the village hall door. The building currently has a powered entry on the Library entrance on the south side of the structure, but not at village hall. The electrical cost for installation is estimated about $700 to $800 and the cost of the door would be about $4,000.

“I am surprised we haven’t been forced to do it,” said village president Bill Schreiner. The unit being considered would be identical to the one currently being used at the nursing home across the street from village hall. The village will seek additional information about costs and what is involved with installing it and bring it back to the July meeting.

 Discussed the bandshell project underway. A community group is raising funds to build a bandshell in the park near the Ice Age Pavilion. Bullis said the group is in the process of getting donations to build it and felt they would have enough money by the end of fundraising to get it put up. Organizers will be working with the Ice Age Pavilion about being open for use of bathrooms when events are planned.

 Following a closed session, board members approved hiring Ben Greiner as a part-time public works employee for $15 per hour not to exceed 1,200 hours in the calendar year.