A: Well, let's look at the CIRRSD as it relates to Hibbing.

Existing Issues

1.  Smell - More waste does not mean more smell.  The offensive smell comes from waste processing issues and lack of water coverage in the sludge ponds.

2.  Flooding - Many of the residents who live in the wastewater treatment plant area, live in a natural flood plain, or in layman's terms a swamp.  I think there are ways to help with some of their flooding issues, but these issues are not caused by wastewater, they are caused by occasional storms producing large amounts of precipitation in a short amount of time, crooked creeks, and undersized private and public culverts.  An extensive flow study was completed for East Swan Creek, and there was not much difference to water levels when wastewater from Chisholm, Buhl and Kinney was added to the calculation for Hibbing's discharge.  If we choose to team with other communities on this sewer project, levels on Barber Creek would be reduced because Chisholm, Buhl and Kinney would no longer be discharging into it.  

3.  Encroachment on private property - Homes neighboring the wastewater treatment plant have, in my opinion, been encroached upon.  Some have had their trees removed, which has destroyed the natural buffer between homes and the wastewater treatment plant.  I believe the people living directly adjacent to the plant should have an option to be bought out for a fair price, and possibly even allowed to buy back their homes for a dollar and move them if they want to.  For those wanting to stay, Hibbing should repair the buffer.

Why would we consider joining the CIRRSD?
We recently completed a wastewater treatment plant upgrade and ditching project that cost Hibbing sewer customers $9.8 Million dollars.  That project has not been paid for and is existing debt, which costs each Hibbing sewer customer and additional $84 a year.

We are required to complete a mercury treatment upgrade which will cost at least 4 Million dollars, and additional plant upgrades because parts of  the south plant are 30 years old, which will cost about $2 Million.  The cost to Hibbing Sewer Customers for these upgrades will be about $60 a year in addition to our current rates. 

Storm sewers are paid for by Hibbing residents who live in town at a rate of about $3.20 a month.  Ditching, culverts and grading in rural areas are paid for by residents living outside of the storm sewer area, and it costs them about $1.30 a month.  To solve the flooding issues the monthly rates, especially to rural residents, will increase.

We know there is a lot of grant funding available for cooperative ventures such as the CIRSSD, and we're not sure if we could get any money if we remain independent.  If Hibbing joined the CIRRSD - from Chisholm, halfway down Highway 5, around Carey Lake and to the connection on Dupont Road, citizens and possibly new businesses would be able to tap into the sewer.  We would have a much better chance for residential and business development by joining the CIRSSD.  If we develop around Carey Lake the lots would have to be 200 feet wide and 2 acres in size to have a septic system, but we could have a housing development supporting high end homes on smaller lake shore lots if we had sewer.  This of course would provide the city with a larger tax base.

There would be a lease arrangement that would provide revenue for Hibbing which would be paid by sewer customers from Chisholm, Buhl and Kinney who would  lease Hibbing's wastewater treatment plant.  There would be a base rate for all communities' sewer customers and then outlying communities' sewer customers would pay the additional cost for pumping to Hibbing in addition to the treatment plant lease fees.  Maintenance and operation costs would not continue to be paid only by Hibbing sewer customers, but would be paid by sewer customers from Hibbing, Chisholm, Buhl and Kinney combined.

Joining the CIRSSD may solve the smell, flooding and encroachment issues that residents living around Hibbing's south wastewater treatment plant are currently experiencing with CIRSSD dollars instead of Hibbing dollars.  Our neighbors to the East are in the process of forming the Quad City Sanitary Sewer District.  Our Neighbors to the West are also looking at similar projects for the Grand Rapids area.

Helpful Links  http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2185/what-happens-to-all-the-stuff-that-goes-down-the-toilet

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage_treatment

        http://www.hibbing.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={7D994804-C762-42AC-B762-BEAC62F4EE92}

This was developed in an effort to facilitate better community education and information about our city of Hibbing wastewater issues, and how they pertain to the Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District possibility.  (8/6/2008) *I do not claim to be an expert on this matter, I am not an engineer, and I would strongly recommend each citizen do their own research.  That's what I know about our sewer system situation - Kim*

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