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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 [08] Aug 29 I I I August 29, 2001, Page 1 of3, ! I Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the St. Joseph City Council met in special session on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 at 7:00 PM at the St. Joseph Community Fire Ha11. i Members Present: Mayor Larry Hosch. Councilors Bob Loso, Cory Ehlert, AI Rassier, Kyle Schneider. Administrator/Clerk Judy Weyrens. City Attorney Tom Jovanovich. City Engineer Joe Bettendorf. Others Present: John Cherne, Mike Weiman, Tammy Weiman, Nancy Hynes, Miriam Ardolf, Paula Revier, Irwin Klocker, Mary Niedenfuer, Howard Nathe, S. Kara Hennes, John Blommer, Len Walz, Ellen Wahlstrom, Bob Wahlstrom, S. Phyllis Plantenberg, Steve Niedenfuer, Ernie Diedrich, Ralph Schroden, Mary Schroden, John Gamades, Jim Odegard, Darlene Bechtold, Jeanette Steichen, Tom Dullinger, Jodi Teich, Mitch Anderson, Joe Bechtold, Herb Bechtold, Jerry Schreifels, Ann Schreifels, Brian Johnson, Linda Johnson, Kay Lemke. Mayor Hosch opened the public hearing and stated the purpose of the hearing is to accept input on the proposed utility improvements to CR 121. Mayor Hosch tumed the floor over to the City Engineer Joe Bettendorf. Bettendorf stated the proposed project is part of a large County project reconstructing CR 121 (College Avenue South) to County Road 138. The Cit~ project consists of! reconstructing CR 121 (College Avenue South) from Minnesota Street to 295 Street and ! includes the installation street, curb, gutter, storm sewer, water and sewer. Preliminary assessment roles have been prepared based on the engineers estimate. I , Tom Breth, 809 College Avenue South, questioned how the City justifies the water and sewer connection fee. Bettendorf responded the sewer hookup fee was established in 1986 when the City became part of the St. Cloud Wastewater project. All the residents were assessed $660 in 1986 and the financing for the project included future assessments for all future connections. Therefore, since 1986 anyone wishing to connect to the system was required to pay that same amount. The same rationale was used with the water system. Over the past years the City has expanded the water system and financed the improvements through water rates. The Council established a water hookup fee that is similar to the increased rates charged to existing water consumers. John Cherne, 620 College Avenue South, stated his current well and septic system is located 55'¡ from the center of the road and questioned if the proposed road will affect the well. i Bettendorf responded that the well should not have an impact. Further, the City does not require wells to be abandoned and many residents keep their wells for lawn watering. If i residents chose to keep their wells, their must be a separate connection between the City water and a well. i , Ralph Schroden, 821 College Avenue South, questioned the value difference between a lot with City services and a lot without. Schroden questioned the assessment and if the services would increase his property by the amount assessed. Ehlert stated that there are many variables in determining the cost of a lot. However, a lot with City services is worth more than that with a septic system. Bettendorf stated that the City must show a benefit before assessing a parcel. The assessment for this particular piece of property seems high, but the property has a front footage of 176 feet. Bettendorf further clarified that the hearing at this time is for the improvement, not the amount of the assessments. Property owners will have the opportunity to contest the assessments after the project is completed. Howard Nathe, Whilshire Apartments, stated that he was surprised when he saw that the City was proposing to assess him $ 172,400. It is his opinion that the City should have met with him to discuss the assessment before sending him the notice. Nathe stated that since he has been annexed to the City he must obtain a rental license. The rental inspector came to the property August 29,2001 Page 2 on and he has many repairs to make some of which are COStly. He stated that the property cannot afford the expense of being part of the City. When he purchased the property he was aware of the improvement project but was told the City would be receiving a grant. Bettendorf stated that the City has been working with the property owners. The assessment for the property seems high as the property contains 32 rental units. The City has adopted a utility connection fee based on the number of units. The majority of the assessment for the property is water and sewer connection charges. The City is in the process of re-submitting the grant application. The grant being sought is a more competitive grant and Bettendorf stated he is not hopeful. I Ralph Schroden, 821 College Avenue South, questioned if the assessments are high due to the large amount of tax exempt property. Bettendorf stated that tax exempt property is assessed and the project has been assessed as equitably as possible. S. Paula Revier, 104 Chapel Lane, stated that she is only speaking for herself, but she has concerns with the trees that will be removed along the St. Benedict property. Revier stated that she recently had a meeting with City representatives where the trees were discussed. Through research, it has been determined the trees are over 70 years old and have served a useful life. Saving the trees at this time may not be in the best interest of the City as when the roots are disturbed they may become less stable. Revier encouraged the Council to consider a tree replacement plan and plant two trees for each tree that is removed. S. Phyllis Plantenberg, property manager for the Monastery of St. Benedict, stated that she had the opportunity to discuss the trees with DNR representative Tom Kroll. Kroll indicated that the natural¡¡fe span for the trees planted along College Avenue is 75 to 80 years. The trees are prone to heart rot, which is a hollowing of the core, and once that begins the trees are extremely unstable and could fall with high winds. Therefore, Plantenberg stated that she too is supportive of replacing the trees with new trees at a ratio of 2:1. I S. Nancy Hynes, 104 Chapel Lane, spoke in favor of keeping the trees and hearing design alternatives from the County and City Engineer. County Engineer Mitch Anderson stated that the road will be widened where it is possible and curb lines will be matched. The existing right-of-way is 80'. The reconstructed road will have a right-of-way of 100' with a road bed of 48' in the City limits and 24' in the Township. Parking will be prohibited on COllege Avenue South. The fate of the trees will not be resolved until the appraiser is finished. Once the appraisal is finished representatives from the County will meet with the Monastery and College. John Gamades, 104 College Avenue South, questioned the connection charges to his property and if he was being assessed for services he already receives. Bettendorf stated that he can review the charges and stated that the calculations were· based on one bedroom apartments. If Gamades submits the types of units in his building the fee can be recalculated. Further, if he already receives services he would not be charged again the hookup fees. Councilor Ehlert left at 8:15 PM Ellen Wahlstrom, 409 - 8th Avenue NE, questioned if the trees on College Avenue are replaced, what types of trees will be planted and is the road being widened to accommodate the center tum lane? She also stated that road is being built to encourage traffic and spe'ed. Bettendorf responded that the road will have a center tum lane for safety reasons. County Road 121 is a major road built to support considerable traffic. The City currently has three developers requesting services for housing. If all the developments occur, approximately 1000 households will be added. Therefore the road needs to be designed I I I I "",,,-.,.--.,,,,,...,,,,,,,,,...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,",.,,,,,,,,",,,,~,' August 29, 2001 Page 3 of3 I with safety included. As far as the tree replacemel)j, the types of trees will be worked out I with the property owners.' I Ralph Schroden, 821 College Avenue South, questioned the width of the road and the need for a I wide road. Bettendorf responded the asphalt area will be 48 to 55 inches. College Avenue (CR 121) is an artery designed to move traffic to major connectors. It will be important for the City to establish an East / West corridor to move tráffic to County Road 75. The current road design includes paved areas for recreational activities such as roller blading. John Blommer, 612 College Avenue South, spoke on behalf of the SI. Joseph Cemetery. Blommer stated that the SI. Joseph Cemetery Association recently planted trees on the property adjacent to County Road 121 and questioned if they will be moved after the road is reconstructed. Bettendorf responded that any trees displaced as a result of the reconstruction will be negotiated with the property owner. In the case of the Cemetery the trees are young enough where they can be transplanted and survive. Tom Breth, 809 College Avenue South, questioned what weight limits the road is being designed to handle. Bettendorf responded that the road will be designed and built as a 9 ton road and will be built to handle heavy traffic. Irvin Klocker, 1404 Minnesota Street East, spoke on behalf of the reconstruction of County Road 121. He stated that he lives on Minnesota Street East and when the City proposed to reconstruct, and widen the road he was opposed. Klocker stated that after the road was completed he was I happy the City had the foresight to build the road with the additional width and sidewalks. Some I roads are main roads and cannot be developed as residential side streets and no matter what the: road is designed to carry, the traffic will naturally use the road. Therefore, while the decision to I improve a major road is difficult, he encourages the Council to continue planning for the future. I Their being no additional testimony, Mayor Hosch closed the public improvement hearing at 8:40 PM. Adiourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 PM; seconded by Rassier and passed unanimously by those present. c :¡¡':t~ _,~1,,~~~£ii~,,;'t.,~iC:; ,.;.0 i i I I THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK I I