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It appears more scrutiny is needed before the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District Board members can chart a course of action on the weir system repair.  A review of the condition of the lake level apparatus earlier this year concluded that work is required “within the next three years’ for the operational capability of the system.  

This has been revisited.

LID liaison and County Board Chair Marlys Dunne commented at the Mar. 20 Board meeting the hoped for “upgrade” of weirs may no longer be an option.

An inspection several months ago revealed “deterioration” of two main components of the lake level system, the Lofton Green Lake weir and the Lake Ellen weir.  The County Board then dedicated $175,000 to fund half of the projects’ estimated cost and the LID Board was going to ask for quotes for awarding the work.   The other half of the weir repairs project expenses would come from grants and outside funding programs. (Story Press Jan 25, 2024.)

Recently though, it was determined more detail needs to be understood.

LID directors decided a first phase (of a possible three-phase) assessment ought to be completed by Collins Engineering;  to better compare full replacement of the structures versus rehabilitating what’s existing.  

Collins was approved to  do this phase for a not to exceed sum of $17,000.

In January 2024 the County Board was advised the current structures could be repaired or rehabbed in place and the LID solicited quotes. Interviews with interested contractors revealed the original needs assessment did not spell out specific materials and their dimensions for the bidding, lacked description of actual deficiencies needing to be remedied, and did not  address the weirs’ structural geometry and channel profiles.  

The Collins Engineering in depth review will provide enough information to either opt for a repair or develop a plan to start over from new on the weirs, the county commissioners were advised.  The feasibility study will finish in 45 days or by the end of April.

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