Comments for Friends of White Bear Area Environment http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com Working for a healthy environment in the City of White Bear Lake and surrounding communities Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:29:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Lights Out, Paul Gruchow Essay Contest Winner 2006 by chandonahower http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/lights-out-paul-gruchow-essay-contest-winner-2006/#comment-52 chandonahower Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:29:33 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/lights-out-paul-gruchow-essay-contest-winner-2006/#comment-52 3 Oct 08 "Lights Out & Moonrise over Manitou Isl" Gruchow winners the past two years aptly brings us all back to the vagaries and indifference of nature not that many spins-of-the-earth ago as we look up and marvel at the unknowable source and unfathomable distances-so comprehensible and so close... ch'an 3 Oct 08
“Lights Out & Moonrise over Manitou Isl” Gruchow winners the past two years aptly brings us all back to the vagaries and indifference of nature not that many spins-of-the-earth ago as we look up and marvel at the unknowable source and unfathomable distances-so comprehensible and so close…
ch’an

]]> Comment on TOP TEN List for Stormwater Reduction by Sue http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/top-ten-list-for-stormwater-reduction/#comment-36 Sue Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:43:43 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/top-ten-list-for-stormwater-reduction/#comment-36 rain barrel kits and downspout diverters can be found at www.aquabarrel.com rain barrel kits and downspout diverters can be found at http://www.aquabarrel.com

]]> Comment on MPCA provides contaminant testing report upon request by Tony http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/mpca-releases-contaminant-testing-report/#comment-35 Tony Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:57:16 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-35 Yet another example of the city manager and the mayor unilaterally withholding important information from both the public and elected officials. The November 12, 2007 environmental report from Braun Intertec Corporation confirms the presence of PAH compounds (including Benzo(a)Pyrene equivalent), arsenic and copper in Varney Pond and Lily Lake. This report was never provided to me during my tenure as a city council member through 2007. I understand that the current council has also not been provided with a copy of this report. Most important is the fact that the extent of the contamination has been withheld from the public. This is but another example of a standard operating procedure used by the city manager and mayor which is nothing less than a breach of the public trust and considered by many to be misconduct or malfeasance by these public officials. As was the case in the Lake Avenue street reconstruction process last year, I fought for the City of White Bear Lake to be a leader in implementing better stormwater infiltration methods. The City Council failed to be leader in this, due largely to the contemptuous attitude by some city staff and council members that their positions or methods should not be questioned, discussed or debated by the public or fellow council members. This arrogance results in a lack of transparency, lack of disclosure and lack of high ethical standards. White Bear Lake has another opportunity to be a leader in banning the use of coal-tar-based parking lot/driveway sealants, or other products that contain PAH compounds which end up polluting our ponds, wetlands and lakes through stormwater systems based on outdated designs. Three members of the city council can insist on changing the current standard operating procedure from withhold, obfuscate and deception to disclose, clarify and honesty. Thanks, Tony Feffer 651-762-1000 Yet another example of the city manager and the mayor
unilaterally withholding important information from both the public and
elected officials.

The November 12, 2007 environmental report from Braun Intertec
Corporation confirms the presence of PAH compounds (including Benzo(a)Pyrene
equivalent), arsenic and copper in Varney Pond and Lily Lake. This report
was never provided to me during my tenure as a city council member through
2007. I understand that the current council has also not been provided with
a copy of this report.

Most important is the fact that the extent of the contamination has been
withheld from the public. This is but another example of a standard
operating procedure used by the city manager and mayor which is nothing less
than a breach of the public trust and considered by many to be misconduct or
malfeasance by these public officials.

As was the case in the Lake Avenue street reconstruction process last year,
I fought for the City of White Bear Lake to be a leader in implementing
better stormwater infiltration methods. The City Council failed to be
leader in this, due largely to the contemptuous attitude by some city staff
and council members that their positions or methods should not be
questioned, discussed or debated by the public or fellow council members.

This arrogance results in a lack of transparency, lack of disclosure and
lack of high ethical standards.

White Bear Lake has another opportunity to be a leader in banning the use of
coal-tar-based parking lot/driveway sealants, or other products that contain
PAH compounds which end up polluting our ponds, wetlands and lakes through
stormwater systems based on outdated designs.

Three members of the city council can insist on changing the current
standard operating procedure from withhold, obfuscate and deception to
disclose, clarify and honesty.

Thanks,
Tony Feffer
651-762-1000

]]> Comment on Where does your street pollution go? by Cindy Johnson http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/where-does-your-street-pollution-go/#comment-33 Cindy Johnson Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:11:22 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-33 I appreciate this info, and I'm amazed at the list of pollutants on the analysis list from the street sweepings. I live on Hiner Pond and I noticed a couple things about the arrows showing how the street water enters the pond. The really long arrow on the south side is actually where the water flows out. There should be an inflowing arrow to the left of it, into that bigger bay. A little island is forming there from all the sediment that has come in over the past 19 years we've lived here. I didn't know about the inlet from the west. Maybe it's hidden by cattails on that side of the pond? Cindy Johnson I appreciate this info, and I’m amazed at the list of pollutants on the analysis list from the street sweepings.

I live on Hiner Pond and I noticed a couple things about the arrows showing how the street water enters the pond. The really long arrow on the south side is actually where the water flows out. There should be an inflowing arrow to the left of it, into that bigger bay. A little island is forming there from all the sediment that has come in over the past 19 years we’ve lived here.

I didn’t know about the inlet from the west. Maybe it’s hidden by cattails on that side of the pond?

Cindy Johnson

]]> Comment on Matoska bird life by marshmarigold http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/matoska-bird-life/#comment-15 marshmarigold Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:21:43 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-15 Recently, just last week and then again today, I have seen the common robin here at the lake. Recently, just last week and then again today, I have seen the common robin here at the lake.

]]> Comment on Matoska bird life by birdwatcher http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/matoska-bird-life/#comment-14 birdwatcher Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:00:13 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-14 What bird historically is the first to appear on area lake's in the spring? What bird historically is the first to appear on area lake’s in the spring?

]]> Comment on Matoska bird life by binocs http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/matoska-bird-life/#comment-11 binocs Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:09:25 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-11 Yellow-headed blackbirds are my calling for spring. Yellow-headed blackbirds are my calling for spring.

]]> Comment on Matoska bird life by lakesyearround http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/matoska-bird-life/#comment-9 lakesyearround Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:55:01 +0000 http://friendsofwhitebearlake.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-9 An amazing number of bird species come and go througout the year at Matoska Marsh on White Bear Lake - an urban refuge. An amazing number of bird species come and go througout the year at Matoska Marsh on White Bear Lake – an urban refuge.

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