Raw Sewage Backs Up in Basement in Stewart, MN Homes -- For Many Years

For many years the municipal sewer lines have backed up into the homes of Stewart residents. Apparently this has been happening for nearly over 40 years.

The city of Stewart recently paid millions for a new city sewer system recently -- but it failed to address this problem.

The Central Minnesota News Network called city council member Jason Peirce today. Pierce said that to deal with overflow of the city's sewers, the city calls the MPCA to notify them, then pumps sewer water into the storm drain, which then feeds into Buffalo Creek. Peirce said the water in Buffalo Creek is tested for amounts of sewage content.

Peirce blamed the sewage back-up on excessive rains and residents pumping their sump-pumps into the sewage drain system.

Peirce said that sewage would not be flowing to the flooded area where Bethke's property is, it is fed north of the town.

Peirce did not have an answer as to why the city's new million-dollar sewer system didn't correct the raw sewage back-ups in the town.

Below is a post by Stewart resident Delvin Bethe from May 2019.




Photo of Bethke's tub showing raw sewage backed up into his tub.

Stewart Mayor Jason Pierce: Excessive Rental Regulations in the City of Stewart

RENTAL ORDINANCE OVER REGULATED

The current Mayor Jason Pierce, who is running unopposed, has opined that the city of Stewart's rental regulations are excessive:

"The rental ordinance has been a contentious subject within the city. I personally think it's over regulated."

Stewart's rental regulations are far more restrictive than many large cities, including the city of Minneapolis.  A former resident contends that the intention behind the rental ordinance is racist, an attempt to drive out rental properties and their renters, many of whom are Hispanic.



COMMENT ON RESIDENT DELVIN BETHKE, PROSECUTED FOR ZONING VIOLATION

Pierce said that Delvin Bethke, who is being criminally prosecuted by the city for zoning violations, had not filled out the zoning application properly and was given time to make corrections. Bethke says "Sometimes I have a hard time seeing properly. I'm not required anyway to have a permit because it is a temporary structure on skids. But  I gave the city a zoning permit. Kevin Klucas is on the zoning board, and they rejected it. So I gave the another permit, and it never made it to the zoning board. Jason  said they never had a meeting on the second permit."

Pierce said the city is "easy to work with." Bethe says, "The city is impossible to work with." Bethke has pleaded with city officials ,"Please work with me."



COMMENT ON THE SLASHING OF TIRES

Pierce said he had not heard about tires being slashed.

Is a Watermelon a Weed?

The city council wanted to cite Delvin Bethke for growing watermelon, calling it a weed. The sheriff even came by to inspect the so-called "weed."  A very strong case can be made for harassment against Bethke.

Drinking Water Unsafe in Stewart, MN

September 6, 2018:  The drinking water in Stewart MN is unsafe due to bacterial contamination. Stewart resident Delvin Bethke reported becoming sick.

Council Member Kevin Klucas Convicted of Habitual Barking of his Dogs -- 5/8/17

Charges were filed against council member Kevin Klucas regarding constant dog barking, and he pled guilty. Allegations have been made that Klucas breeds dogs at his home, a city zoning violation. Klucas admitted his dogs barked too much, and that his dogs had a few litters, but he denied he is breeding dogs on his property.

 

September 6, 2017 -- Alleged Harassment by Police in Stewart

Stewart resident and property owner Delvin Bethke has said that the police have harassed him numerous times, pulling him over for no reason. It happened again September 6, 2017.

 

City Official Allegedly Perpetrates Fraud

There is a city official in Stewart MN. One day he was working on his car and injured his back. So he had his dad bring him to work on Monday morning, and he pretended to fall out of his car and injure himself to get an insurance settlement.

This city official fought with the company he worked for in Glencoe, and got his payout. To this day he is fine.

In fact, if you search him online, it says he's teaching martial art Krav Maga.  Krav Maga is a military self-defense system that derived from a combination of techniques from boxing, wrestling, aikido, judo and karate.

Stewart City Official Allegedly Caught Having an Affair

An anonymous source stated:

"One of the city officials is getting a divorced.  He's having an affair with a woman in town who is 20 years younger.

"This city official also fell out of a tree stand and broke both of his legs  over New Year's.
"Then he tried to commit suicide and they locked him up in mental health for 72 hours.  He was in HCMC for over a month and he's going crazy because he can't control the town anymore."

No Consumer Confidence in Stewart, MN?

The city of Stewart, MN publishes a "Consumer Confidence Report." However there are no consumer opinions, nothing about consumer confidence in Stewart. What if they did an actual consumer confidence survey?

  

Who are Stewart City Officials?

As of October 31, 2018 these are the current City of Stewart Officials.