Fall 2021 Hometown Messenger

PUBLIC WORKS

(This story is from the 2015 Summer Hometown Messenger) Streets Maintenance Operator Brian Theis has found some interesting things floating through the city’s sewer system – rings, cell phones, underwear, Matchbox cars, coins, jeans. Surprisingly (or maybe not), no one ever seems to claim these long-lost treasures. That’s probably because few residents give thought to the city’s sewer system, an orchestrated grid of 131 miles of pipes carrying waste and excess water to the Metropolitan Council’s Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant on the east edge of the city. When you flush, think of us Yearly maintenance prevents sewer back ups.

“The sewer system is quiet, works well, out of sight, out of mind,” said Public Works’ Streets Maintenance Supervisor Dave Rutt. “But when there’s a problem, that’s when people get really worked up.” Rightly so. While uncommon, sewer backups can be costly and messy, tearing up yards and streets. Each year the city cleans approximately one-third of its sewer lines, an average of 5,000 feet a day. Maintenance includes jetting the lines (using high-pressure water to flush out debris), searching for buried manholes and cutting out tree roots. The city also annually hires an outside contractor to televise a portion of the system, which involves running a video camera through the pipes. “Basically, they’re looking for problem areas, such as broken pipes,”Theis said. Most of the city’s sewer system is gravity flow, meaning it relies on elevation changes to push sewage toward the Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment facility. Older parts of Shakopee tend to see the most sewer backups, Theis said. This is because sewer pipe used to be constructed of clay, which can break down and is susceptible to cracking. Over time, the city has replaced many pipes with PVC or reinforced them using a process called slip lining. Property owners are responsible for maintenance of the lateral service line running from their building or house to the main line under the street. According to Rutt, most sewer backups happen in privately owned pipes which are narrower (4 inches) than the main lines (8 to 10 inches). Residents must be aware of what they are flushing down their toilets and drains. For example, baby wipes are a common culprit of clogs. These non-flushable wipes get stuck in the system and can cause major damage. Residents should never flush grease, diapers, rags, kleenex, food, or other non-compostable items. “The biggest misconception people have about the sewer system is that they can flush anything they want,” Rutt said.

For example, City Code prohibits the dumping of storm water, including sump pump discharge, down sewer drains. Storm water does not need to be treated, and since Met Council rates are based on water use, this only increases user fees. Homeowners can also do their part by ensuring crews have access to the underground system by abiding by easements; keeping trees, landscapes and buildings off of pipes; and not burying manhole covers. “If your sewer backs up, your contractor needs to get to the pipes fast,”Theis said. “Fences, trees, sheds – they make it that much harder.” “Maintaining the system is about making sure everything keeps flowing, and we rely on homeowners and businesses doing their part to keep what doesn’t belong out of the pipes,” Rutt said.

A LOOK BACK In 1967 a new Shakopee elementary school was built on the corner of 10th Avenue and Adams Street South. The name of the

new school was the Edward and Grace Sweeney Elementary School which was dedicated on October 1, 1967 to the two well-known Shakopee educators. Edward J. Sweeney was born in Middleport, New York in 1857. In 1909 Edward moved to Minnesota and was the superintendent for 14 years at Melrose Public and Parochial Schools. Prior to moving to Shakopee in 1924, he spent a year at Cretin High School in St. Paul. Edward accepted the position of Superintendent of Shakopee High School and spent twelve years in that role up until his death in 1936. During those twelve years, he accomplished much for the Shakopee School System including the building of Shakopee High School located on 5th Avenue and Holmes Street. Grace E. Sweeney, Edward’s wife, was equally passionate about education. Born in 1894 in West St. Paul and coming from a long lineage of teachers, Grace knew at a very early age she wanted to teach. She spent 33 years in the Shakopee School System, first teaching biology and Latin from 1927 to 1931. Following the death of her husband in 1936, Grace taught at the high school and eventually became the Shakopee High School Principal in 1950. She remained the principal for eleven years. Grace died in 1987 at age 92.

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