Former Gov. Arne Carlson this week raised concerns about what he called an “incredible delay” in informing Stillwater residents that one of the city’s wells has levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances above health-based guidance values for drinking water.

Stillwater officials disclosed earlier this month that they shut down one of the city’s wells more than a year ago after tests from the Minnesota Department of Health showed the water from the well had PFAS levels above health-based guidelines for drinking water.

Former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson in 2008. (Jim Mone / AP Photo)

The well — Well No. 6 — is one of eight city wells and is located in the southeastern part of the city. Once city officials learned that trace amounts of PFAS were found in the well, they shut it down, said City Administrator Joe Kohlmann.

But city officials waited until March 6 to alert residents because health department officials advised the city that “four consecutive quarters of testing were needed to verify the PFAS level and ensure it was not a ‘false positive,’” Kohlmann said.

“They advised notifying the public approximately 330 days after the initial testing,” Kohlmann said. “We shut down the well between the first and second test as a preventative measure.”

Stillwater officials have followed the lead of the Minnesota Department of Health on this matter “because they are the agency that tests the water and advises further action,” he said. “The city’s decision to shut down the well was unilateral and done to protect the public. The Minnesota Department of Health still has not advised that the well be shut down.

However, the city of Stillwater will continue to go above and beyond recommendations to provide safe drinking water.”

No federal standards

In a letter to Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham, Carlson questioned why MDH officials didn’t insist residents be told right away.

“This goes well beyond careless management or an administrative snafu,” Carlson wrote. “People’s lives were placed in danger by the deliberate inaction of their own government. Why was the public not fully informed when the first well was found to have contaminants that exceeded the state’s standards? Further, why was there a delay between the finding of serious contamination and the closing of the well?”

MDH officials said Thursday that there are currently “no actionable federal or state standards for the allowable amount of PFAS in drinking water systems.”

The MDH “has been monitoring PFAS levels in anticipation of a federal standard, and as a way to set a baseline for those levels in systems,” MDH Interim Assistant Commissioner for Health Protection Myra Kunas said in a prepared statement. “This is work that has not been mandated at the state or federal level, but the department believes it is an important part of ensuring the safety of drinking water across Minnesota.”

MDH currently has no regulatory authority to act to shut down a water system with any amount of PFAS detected, she said.

“When elevated levels are found in community drinking water systems, those communities are notified, and we provide support and guidance on the best course of action,” she said. “We will continue to do all that we can within our regulatory authority and in cooperation with federal and local partners to ensure that all Minnesotans have access to safe drinking water.”

‘More visibility’

Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski said Thursday that he appreciated Gov. Carlson’s “desire to get more visibility on this issue.”

“We are in the position where we have to rely on the state, and we need the state of Minnesota to help us,” Kozlowski said. “If we have to mitigate this, we’re certainly going to need the help of the state.”

In a post to residents on Facebook, Kozlowski said the city closed the well out of “an abundance of caution.”

Related Articles

Stillwater: Historic Courthouse reopens after $4.5M makeover

Forest Lake woman organizes Vietnam veterans program one last time before passing torch

Scandia: Two children evaluated for possible minor injuries after school bus crash

Smart thermostat alerts Lower St. Croix firefighter to his own house fire

Afton gold medalist Jessie Diggins makes Nordic skiing history once again

“There are communities where the levels of PFAS are so high the MDH has directed actions to mitigate through treatment or shut down wells,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, our friends in Lake Elmo, Oakdale, Woodbury and others have faced this issue.

“The Minnesota Department of Health HAS NOT recommended any mitigation or closure for our affected well. Out of an abundance of caution and the fact that the other unaffected wells can supply our water needs, we made the decision to close well #6 while we work with the MDH to continue to test and identify what, if any, mitigation needs to happen. None of our other wells have tested over the threshold set by the MDH for PFAS.”

Kozlowski said the city would continue “to take actions that go above and beyond MDH recommendations and provide updates.”

“I’m drinking our water, my kids are drinking this water, and I love Stillwater water,” he said. “While I am absolutely taking this seriously, there is no reason to be concerned about our water.”

Anthony Edwards was rolling in the third quarter on Tuesday during Minnesota’s narrow loss against the defending champion Nuggets.

The 22-year-old star guard scored 14 points in the frame. Denver adjusting by putting as much attention as you can possibly give on an opposing player – doubling Edwards the moment he caught the ball. Basically, the Nuggets were saying, “Anyone but Ant” to finish the frame and the Timberwolves were short-handed as is.

Edwards tried to push through the attention, and finished the quarter with an ill-advised jumper and a turnover.

That scenario has happened in the past, as Edwards tries to ride the wave just a few moments too long. It’s been the bad that’s come with the good in Edwards’ short career, and a worthy sacrifice for Minnesota.

But, perhaps, the most encouraging aspect came as the Timberwolves went to the bench between quarters.

“Ant came to the bench after, I think, he took one or two too many shots there in a row, and kind of did a heat-check shot,” Mike Conley said. “He said, ‘I was feeling myself too much.’ And that’s growth right there; for him to say and recognize that right away without me coming and telling him that.”

Edwards went on to tell Conley he was going to find the point guard and others within the game in his next stint. Edwards didn’t score in the fourth quarter of the defeat – which isn’t what Minnesota wants – but Conley had 13 in the frame and Minnesota had a chance to send the game to overtime in the closing seconds.

“A lot of it is him recognizing it and not allowing himself to get lost in the game so much,” Conley said. “When he’s rolling, he’s rolling. But he’s also trying to think about his teammates. He’s trying to think about how to win the game from that perspective.”

And that’s why the last game and a half, specifically, might be the best basketball of Edwards’ career. When the play is there for him to score, he’s taking it. When defenses are overcommitting to the guard, he’s getting off the ball and creating opportunities for others.

Yes, Edwards had 25 points in the second half of Minnesota’s win Monday in Utah, but he also had six assists. He had eight dimes Tuesday. Assists as a raw number don’t always tell the story, but they are a sign of the commitment Edwards is making to doing the right thing on every offensive possession.

In that scoreless fourth frame against Denver, Edwards noted the Nuggets “changed it up” and started blitzing him on screen-and-rolls and doubling him on the catch.

“So, just having to get off the ball and make the right reads, I feel like I did in the fourth,” Edwards said. “They did a great job of making me get off of it.”

And Minnesota, to some extent, was able to make Denver pay. The Nuggets survived the contest because some of their big-named players got hot at the right time. But Minnesota never faded in the contest. Part of that is due to Edwards’ leadership in playing hard and, just as importantly, the right way.

“I think it’s natural (to make the right play) at this point,” Edwards said, “because I don’t want to be on film the next day.”

It used to be easy to pick out five offensive plays in which Edwards forced the issue. It’s why even his 15-point quarters were sometimes harmful to Minnesota’s offense, because everyone else was left to spectate.

Now, even Edwards’ heaters are seemingly coming within the general flow of the game.

“Actually, Ant has done a really good job getting off of it in a crowd, and those guys have really benefited from it,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “I think it’s understanding you don’t have to hit a home run every time down. Certainly be aggressive, draw a crowd, make the right play. And it doesn’t matter. I don’t believe he scored in the fourth – that’s probably on me, maybe, to try to get the ball in his hands a little bit more. But we had some other decent looks and guys will normally step up and make those things. So, that’s what we’ve been preaching.”

Edwards has certainly been listening. He always listens, but the message looks to be sinking in deeper on a more consistent basis of late. Perhaps, it’s a sign the ownership he feels in Minnesota being ‘his’ offense, or a comfort in knowing that if he gets off the ball on consecutive possessions, there’s still no doubt the ball will be back in his hands the next time given the Timberwolves’ current injury situation.

Whatever the case may be, Minnesota is benefitting from some of the best offense of Edwards’ career, which is coming at a perfect time for the Timberwolves. The guard is leading from the front.

“He’s growing and that’s something we need. We can’t just rely on him to go score 60 every night. He’s capable of doing that. But if we’re gonna win, we need all of us,” Conley said. “We need me. We need Nickeil (Alexander-Walker), we need (Jordan McLaughlin), Monte (Morris), Jaden (McDaniels) and all the guys be able to have a rhythm, and be able to knock down shots in the fourth and relieve him some of that pressure. So, he’s realizing that. And (Tuesday) was another night where we got back in the game, even without him having to take us all the way.”

Related Articles

Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore submit financial documents to buy Timberwolves and Lynx, report says

Charges: Timberwolves employee stole high-ranking team official’s hard drive containing personal and work information

Short-handed Timberwolves put up stiff fight, fall at horn to Denver

Anthony Edwards skies and stars as Timberwolves down Jazz

In a season of sacrifice, Timberwolves’ Mike Conley is reminding everyone he can still score