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Below
are some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) presented to the Engineering Division staff. If your question is not answered here, please call
952.882.2671.
General Engineering FAQs
Q. Who
do I call with concerns about construction noise?
A. Working
hours are Monday thru Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 a.m.; Sunday,
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions or
concerns, please call the Engineering Department at 952.882.2671 during
regular business hours. If you have concerns after normal business hours,
please call the Police Department at 952.882.2600.
Q. How
do I get the speed limit lowered on my street?
A. Please read
the on-line brochure on speed limits from the Minnesota Department of Transportation at
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/speed/speedbrochure.html.
Q. What
projects are currently under construction and when will they be finished?
A. Please
refer to our engineering projects web page for a map
and description of all current projects.
Q. What
kind of maps are available from the City of Savage?
A. City
street and zoning maps are available at City Hall for a fee. They can
also be downloaded off the city website at no charge.
Q. Does
the City survey lots?
A. The City does not have a
surveyor on staff and, therefore, does not survey lots. A registered land surveyor should do this work.
Q. Is
my neighbor allowed to direct his sump pump discharge pipe towards my property?
A. A drainage
easement runs along a line between your property and your neighbor's property. As long as the pipe does not
cross the property line, your neighbor is allowed to direct the discharge in that direction. You may want to
work with your neighbor to move the pipe around in different places to change the location of discharge from
time to time.
Grading FAQs
Q. What
is an "as-built survey" and why does the city need one?
A. An
as-built survey is a survey that the builder submits after the rough grade is completed on a lot. It is reviewed to
ensure that the Citys minimum grading requirements are met and that the property conforms to the adjacent properties.
The
as-built survey must be approved before any further work may be done on the property. Check with your builder to make sure
an as-built survey has been submitted to the City for approval. Sod, irrigation systems, and landscape materials may not be installed
until the as-built survey is approved. This typically takes two weeks from the time it is submitted to the City.
Q. Who
comes out and inspects my lot for proper grading?
A. The majority of as-built surveys are reviewed in the office only. However, if there is an area of concern,
an inspector may visit the property.
Q. When
can I lay sod?
A. Sod
may be laid after the City approves the as-built survey. This typically takes two weeks from the time the as-built is submitted
to the City. Check with your builder to make sure an as-built survey has been submitted to the City for approval.
Q. When
can I put a sprinkler system in?
A. Check
with your builder to make sure an as-built survey has been submitted to the City for approval. You can install a sprinkler system after
the as-built survey has been approved by the Citys grading inspector and
you have received a building permit from the Building
Inspections Department.
Q. How
do I get my escrow released?
A. Once
the as-built survey, sod and trees have been approved, the escrow will be released to whomever paid the escrow to the City. If you are not sure
of the status of your as-built, please call your builder.
Environment FAQs
Q. What
is the City's policy on wetland protection and preservation?
A. In
1999, the City of Savage adopted the Comprehensive Wetland Protection and Management Plan (CWPMP). The purpose of the
Savage CWPMP is to provide a comprehensive plan for the protection and management of the City's wetlands. The plan allows the
City to protect and manage wetlands utilizing the flexibility outlined in the Wetland Conservation Act. To view a copy of the
CWPMP, you may ask for one at City Hall or at the Savage Public Library.
Q. What
is the City's policy on erosion control?
A. Property
owners in the City are responsible for making certain that dirt does not
wash from their property onto the public
street, drainage system, adjacent property or lake system. When sites are under construction, the property owner
or builder is responsible for taking measures to contain sediment on the property. Such measures may include but
are not limited to silt fence and rock construction entrances.
Q. What
are the requirements for building a retaining wall?
A. A
retaining wall cannot be located within any easements without obtaining a
license to encroach from the City. If you are not sure if the location is within an easement, check with the Engineering
Division at City Hall. If a retaining wall will exceed 4 feet in height, a professional engineer must design it.
Q. Why
is the wetland behind my home so green in color and have so many weeds?
A. One
explanation for the green color is that phosphorus is finding its way to the wetland. Phosphorus from fertilizers runs off lawns
and ends up in area lakes and wetlands where it promotes algae growth. For every pound of phosphorus that finds its
way to the water body, 500 pounds of algae can be produced. Algae turns a blue
lake green and damages the lakes
ecosystem. The source of the phosphorus is the fertilizer that residents apply to their lawns.
The City ordinance forbids the use of fertilizers that contain any amount of
phosphorus or other compounds containing phosphorus, such as phospates.
Q. How
can I tell if a fertilizer is phosphorus-free?
A. The
composition of fertilizer is indicated by a series of three numbers on the package. The middle number indicates the
percentage of phosphorus in the fertilizer. Look for a middle number of 0 to be sure you are buying a
phosphorus free fertilizer.
Q. If
phosphorus poses a threat to lakes and wetlands, why is it in fertilizer in the first place?
A. In
some parts of the country, soils need phosphorus to sustain healthy plant development. That is not true in Minnesota.
Minnesota soils are generally rich in phosphorus.
Q. How
do I know if my soil needs fertilizer? If it does, how do I determine what kind to use?
A. A
soils test will give you the nutrient profile of your soil. With this information, you can buy fertilizer that will work best for
your lawn. Soil tests are easy to use. Kits are available from the University of Minnesota Extension
Service at 612.374.8400.
Q. If
I do not live near a lake, stream, or wetland, should I be concerned about using phosphorus-free fertilizer?
A. YES!
No matter where you live in Savage, run-off from your lawn finds its way into the storm sewer system. The storm sewer
system then empties into local water bodies.
Q. Why
is it important to maintain a buffer strip around all ponds and wetlands?
A. Buffer
strips are very important to filter out the pollutants and chemicals that are carried by storm water runoff before they reach
the pond or wetland. They keep the pond from rapidly growing algae and other weeds. City ordinance requires that
all property owners maintain a natural buffer strip a minimum of 16.5' wide around all water bodies.
Buffer strips serve as a barrier to annoying species, such as geese, from going
into your yard and also serve as a deterrent for young children from entering the ponds and wetlands.
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