October 1st, 2007 (Public Hearing)
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Public Hearing for the proposed 2008 Street & Utility Improvements was held on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Crosby City Hall Council Chambers.
Mayor Dale Sova presided with Member Debra Shankle and Member Edward Vukelich present. Members Erwin “Buzz” Neprud and David “Butch” Ferrari were absent.
Mayor Sova opened the public hearing at 6:02 p.m and turned the hearing over to Mike Rude of Widseth Smith & Nolting.
Mike Rude handed out to everyone present in the audience and the City Council and an 11 page handout showing the process of determining the 2008 Street & Utility Improvements. He explained the process and where this project is at and what the next step will be after the public is heard at this meeting. The processes for determining improvements are governed by MN Statutes 429.
Mayor Sova asked that any one who would like to speak to be acknowledged by the Mayor and to state their name and address for the record and he then opened up the floor for questions and comments.
Chris Bickford – 609 – 2nd Street SW
-We are having a problem with the water – not the street. Why can’t we run a water line under the north side of the road? We don’t want curb & gutter.
Mike Rude – Water does run down the side of the road, we would still have to trench 20’ width to be in compliance with OSHA. The use of a box is legal, but the box is about 8’ wide and it would double the cost of the water portion of the project. The sewer hasn’t failed yet, but there is probably clay tile under there that is 60-70 years old.
Mayor Sova – Have we videoed that street yet? (No) Could we video tape it? (Yes)
Chris Bickford – I’m not having trouble with my sewer, just my water.
Mike Rude – Saw a video of it 2 years ago and none of it was good. It had cracks and rips could break any time.
Member Vukelich – I would like to see it video taped.
Mayor Sova asked Mike Rude to look in to the possibility that this street has already been videotaped yet.
Lindy Jo Johnson – 115 – 4th Street NW-
-Can assessments run for 15 to 20 years instead of 7 years? 4th Street is a very busy street and why the width change? Mail boxes are going to be removed – are they going to be replaced?
Why does this road need to be fixed now?
Mike Rude – The road is narrow – fire code states how far hydrants need to be from each other.
Lindy Johnson – Can we vote on how wide the street is and if we want a parking area?
Mike Rude – The road belongs to the city and it’s very narrow only 20’ – 22’ and it needs to be wider because of safety.
Mayor Sova – You can park on city streets except during the winter or we have put up no parking zone” signs.
Fran Vida – 106 4th Street NW – Why are they going through this? We’ve never had any trouble. Have there been complaints?
Mayor Sova – We need to prevent things from happening and the lines are over 50 years old.
Fran Vida – There is no water standing anywhere and on one piece of property there are only 2 buildings on it and my sister is one of them and the Food Shelf is the other.
Jennifer Turner – Owner of property behind the Food Shelf – Is the city acquiring the power building? And if they are who is going to pick up the cost of the assessments? Has the city applied for any grants for this project?
Mike Rude – The city has applied for grants and low interest loans for a new water tower, treatment plant and wells, but the money is very hard to come by.
Jennifer Turner – A lot of people are on a fixed income and if the payments could be stretched out longer than 10 years. Are the preliminary numbers going to be higher or lower?
Mike Rude – This year has turned out to be a good bidding year and projects have come in less than estimated, but we won’t know until the bids are let.
Jennifer Turner – Is the price per foot the same for everyone? (Yes) and is Minnesota Power going to be assessed also? (Yes)
Carol Verdun – Who pays for the street?
Mike Rude – It is figured on the hand out sheet that I gave you. These prices per foot are only estimates and when the bids come in we’ll know exactly what the price will be.
Carol Verdun – My mother is on a fixed income and is the interest rate negotiable?
Beryl Foote – 103 – 4th Street NW – I’m the last person on that line and I don’t have any water or sewer problems and I’m already paying $2,300 in taxes and then you want to charge me another $16,000, I just can’t afford it, let me try to sell my house before you do this then and you are going to tax us right our of town. There are also junky yards in the neighborhood that haven’t been cleaned up either.
Mayor Sova – Please let the Clerk know of those properties and we’ll notify them.
Fran Vida – If you are going to go through with it can there be only parking on 1 side of the street and have it 25 mph in the area?
Beryl Foote – I own only 131’ feet, not 191’ that it shows.
Charles Sellers – 1107 – 2nd Street SW – Can’t you just do a smaller piece? Why don’t you bid it in 2 projects?
Mike Rude – Bids generally come in at a better price if we bid it as one large project.
Keith Lundgren – 616 -2nd Street SW – How far are they going to the west?
Mike Rude – We are going up to 7th Avenue and then south to 3rd Street and we are putting in a new hydrant at the corner of 2nd Street SW & 7th Avenue.
Cindy Gunter – There is a broken hydrant by our house. Where does the water and sewer amount that we pay for each month go? I’m paying for services 3 times.
Mike Rude – The water and sewer rates in Crosby are very low.
Cindy Gunter – Why don’t we advertise that the rates are low?
Wade Shankle – 610 – 2nd Street S.W. – When are we going to find out how much this is going to cost us? Do we have a choice in this?
Mike Rude – Cindy Nelson will know in about a week after we publish everything and the bids come in.
Jennifer Turner – The infrastructure in this town is terrible. Why can’t the city get a bid for a long term project? We all agree it has to be done, but can’t you make it more affordable?
Mike Rude – Right now the water tower and the treatment plant are not adequate and the state tells us that the city guys do a wonderful job at keeping it working, but it is just wearing out.
Carol Verdun – What is the process now? Will there be another meeting? If this goes through will you allow for signage on 4th Street as there are a lot of kids in the area.
Mayor Sova – We can get signs, we’ll have the PD do a study to see how fast people are traveling in the area now.
Lindy Johnson – Can you put the signs on the existing poles and not make new holes in people’s yards?
Bud Lound representing Cuyuna Range Food Shelf – We get out water and sewer from 4th Street & Cross Avenue and $200.00 a month added on the taxes is a tremendous amount for anyone. We urge the Council when the bids come in and if they are not considerably less, to put the project on hold.
Mike Rude – If we do a huge project like the city did a couple of years ago, things go more slowly.
Cindy Gunter – Why don’t you put this off until spring?
Mike Rude – We’ll have to see how the bids come in and we do know of a contractor (if he bids)
he could get the whole project done in 2 weeks.
Cindy Gunter – We use the avenue to get to our property anyway.
Lindy Johnson – As long as this connects to the highway, can’t you get a grant to connect to that?
Mike Rude – We’ll hook into the state storm drainage pipe.
Mayor Sova – Are there anymore questions, comments or concerns? Everyone has raised valid concerns.
Mayor Sova closed the public hearing at 7:38 p.m.
MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO ADJOURN. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. Time was 7:39 p.m.
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Dale J. Sova, Mayor Cindy S. Nelson, Clerk-Treasurer