We are part of The Trust Project.
We are neighbors concerned about the proposed location of the 188-acre private golf course Tepetonka Club in sections 13 and 14 of Lake Andrew Township in Kandiyohi County, near New London. As a local community, we have some grave concerns about the project.
The Century Farm location would cause enormous damage to the Upper Shakopee Creek, wetlands, Lake Florida, and the entire Chippewa River Watershed. The Century Farm itself has large fragile wetlands, flowing artesian springs, abundant wildlife, monarch butterfly habitat and an active eagle’s nest. All of this could be damaged by the golf course construction, maintenance, spraying fertilizers and herbicides, and septic systems.
The Century Farm location is very close to the 300-acre Kandiyohi County landfill. The documented risk of chemical leakage from the landfill extends up to and under the farmland. In the 1980s, the landfill was designated as a Superfund Cleanup Site.
Kandiyohi County has tried very hard to contain the leakage, but it continues to expand. A golf course pumping an estimated 10+ million gallons of water each summer near this landfill could cause the contaminated plume to expand much further and faster. The risk of irreversible damage to the aquifer and private wells is tremendous.
A full Environmental Impact Statement, not just a worksheet, needs to be done by the golf course developers for this complex. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet was done on Sept. 2, 2011 by Kandiyohi County as part of a Kandiyohi County landfill expansion project. That worksheet provides an excellent baseline for a new assessment. In addition, that worksheet calls for continued investigation of the contaminated groundwater plume.
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At the July 26, 2022, Lake Andrew Township Board meeting, about 40 residents were present and wanting to ask questions about the environmental impact and taxation of the golf course. After a brief presentation, the developers refused to answer any questions and abruptly walked out.
Since the land has not been purchased, it is time for the developers to move on to a property that does not have these serious environmental concerns. The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission could help them relocate.
We support Dean and Lori Thorson in their efforts to preserve their century-old family farm and protect this unique and fragile environment.
Lake Andrew Township residents and/or property owners:
Gary V. & Carolyn Noehl
Dr. Greg Olson & Karyn Vidmar
Steve & Dr. Amber Vick
Richard & Dorene Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Nelson
Andrew & Alicia Glimsdal
Mark J. & Dr. Julie Meyer Thompson
John & Kathy Hartley
