Northern to discuss sewer system

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

March 11, 1997

By Devlyn Brooks

Staff Writer

Should Northern Township build its own sewer system?

Northern Township residents will discuss the possibility of paying for a municipal sewer system at their annual township meeting today, according to township Clerk/Administrator Mary Israelson.

Israelson said in addition to the standard business conducted at the annual meeting, this year the residents of Northern Township will hear a presentation by the engineering firm KBM Inc., which was hired by the township to evaluate the township's sewer needs after last year's annual meeting.

Although it was just a preliminary study to determine what, if anything, needs to be done for the township residents, she said the sewer issue is of great importance to them because most of the residential lots on Lake Bemidji are included in the township's boundaries. There are also a few residential lots on the south end of Lake Movil that are include in Northern Township, as well.

The owners of lake homes are becoming concerned over what to do when it comes time to put in a new septic tank, Israelson said. Some of the houses are quickly approaching the age at which a new septic system might be needed.

Those homeowners have to find another option other than another septic tank because Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulations state any new septic systems must be constructed a specified number of feet from the lake. However, she said, most of the lake homes do not have the room needed to build a septic system that would pass MPCA standards.

This brings about the need to look at some kind of sewer system provided by the township, she said.

"This preliminary study was pretty basic. KBM tried to determine what the need is for a municipal sewer system, Israelson said. "The presentation at the annual meeting will be a synopsis of their study for the residents."

Israelson said she did not know what conclusions KBM would be presenting.

The issue of a municipal sewer system was addressed once before by Northern Township, she said, about 20 years ago by residents who believed they had about that many years left in their septic systems.

"It's just time to talk about it again," she said.

Before any decisions would be made, she said the county would hold a number of informational meetings so township residents could voice their opinions. A decision may not be made this year.

"Before it gets to that point, the township just wants to see what the residents want to do," she said.

In the few conversations she has had with township residents, Israelson said she believes most people are favoring some kind of township action.

In addition to discussing the sewer system, Northern Township residents will discuss the 1997 levy amount, hear road and fire reports and discuss the township's First Responders contribution.