HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-255
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RESOLUTION NO. 92-255
THE CITY OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA
WHEREAS, the retaining wall system built in 1937, on the st.
Croix River at stillwater by the Works progress Administration
(WPA), was designed to protect the City from flooding, and the
riverbank from erosion; and
WHEREAS, the st. Croix River has been designated as one of
America's "Wild and Scenic Rivers"; and
WHEREAS, the retaining wall system, the interstate lift
bridge, Lowell Park, and much of the commercial section of downtown
stillwater are all listed on the "National Register of Historic
Places" of the U.S. Department of Interior; and
WHEREAS, the wall system has severely deteriorated over the
past 55 years, collapsing 200 feet of the 1,000 foot structure,
producing washouts that have created voids of 250 square feet under
the retaining wall, causing the forward movement of the upper wall,
and resulting in the deterioration of the six inch concrete slabs
which form the wharf; and
in a report by the Army corps of
is not the result of inadequate
WHEREAS, it was stated
Engineers that the failure
maintenance by the city; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined on the basis of core samples,
that a large section of the riverfront property was created by
filling during the logging era creating known pockets of sawdust
and wood debris fill, and resulting in soil conditions that are
highly suspect; and
WHEREAS, the Army Corps of Engineers, and a private
engineering firm have both independently stated there is a strong
likelihood that the wall could experience a significant failure
within the next two years, and that in the case of such a failure
of the riverfront would occur at a very fast rate, possibly losing
the entire levee wall, the bridge, Lowell Park, and other historic
buildings and sites in the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, the trunk sanitary sewer system, and the lift station
used by the city is located adjacent to the wall system, and would
also be threatened in case of a failure of the wall system; and
WHEREAS, the existing wall system is not adequate to prevent
annual flooding of the roadway adjacent to the river, and the
erosion of the riverfront, thereby impeding emergency medical and
fire protection services; and
WHEREAS, the Water Resources Development Act of 1992
authorizes the expenditure of $3.2 million for the repair and
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extension of th~ retaining wall system at Stillwater, Minnesota, of
which 25% will be provided from non-federal sources; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota footings of the 2-lane interstate
bridge linking Minnesota and Wisconsin is located in the levy wall,
and the bridge accommodates over 19,000 vehicles per day. A
failure of the wall would mean a failure of the bridge and vehicles
would be routed to the Hudson crossing on the south or the Osceola
crossing on the north, a distance of 28 miles, a serious disruption
of emergency access.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the city of stillwater urgently requests the united
States Congress to appropriate $2.4 million for the purpose of
undertaking the design, repair, reconstruction, and extension of
the flood wall system on the st. Croix River at stillwater,
Minnesota, as authorized in section 363 of Public Law 102-580, the
Water Resources Development Act of 1992.
THEREFORE, the Clerk of the city of stillwater shall be, and
is hereby directed, to transmit three copies of this resolution to
the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee of the u.s. House of Representatives Appropriations
Committee; the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water
Subcommittee of the u.S. Senate Appropriations Committee; the
Assistant Secretary for civil Works for the Department of the Army,
u.S. Department of Defense; the Commander of the u.S. Army corps of
Engineers Headquarters, Washington D.C., and to the District
Engineer, st. Paul, Minnesota District Office, u.S. Army corps of
Engineers.
Adopted by the city Council of the City of stillwater this
15th day of December, 1992.
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Wally Abrahamson, Mayor
ATTEST:
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