4.5. SR 05-17-2004MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
Pat Klaers, City Ad~~ator~
May 17, 2004
Boston/Concord Improvement Project Update
Item 4.5.
Mayor I~linzing has indicated that Elaine Stueffen contacted her regarding the SAC fee for
the Boston/Concord Improvement project. Ms. Stueffen will be in attendance at this
meeting to discuss with the City Council her request and unique situation. This property
owner was already connected to the water system before the public improvement project
',vas ordered.
Attached for your information is a copy of the letter that the city engineer sent out to all
impacted property owners regarding the availability for connection to the sewer and water
system.
Councilmember Dietz may also want to visit with the City Council regarding the residential
assessment amount and the assessment appeal that the city settled earlier this year.
S:~Council~Pat~2004~BostonConcord.doc
September 17, 2003
File: 818860J-0071
RE: SANITARY SEWER AND WATER AVAILABILITY
Dear Boston Street/Concord Street Property Owners:
This correspondence is intended to inform you that the sanitary sewer and watermain facilities
recently constructed in your neighborhood will be available for connection beginning the week of
September 22, 2003. According to City ordinance, you will have two years from the date of availability
in which to make connection to both utilities. When connection is made during the two-year period, it
must be made to both the sanitary sewer and watermain at the same time.
For ease of record keeping, the City will establish October 1, 2003, as the date that sanitary sewer
and water was available to your neighborhood. Therefore, you will have until October 1, 2005, in
which to make connection. As you are aware, there is a Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) and a
Water Availability Charge (WAC) that are paid at the time of connection. These fees are adjusted
annually. You will be charged the SAC and WAC rates in place at the time that you choose to make
connection.
Our survey crews have recorded the location of the sanitary sewer and watermain stubs to each
property. If you choose to wait to make connection to the systems, when you do make connection,
please have the contractor contact us and we can provide the stub location information.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, please call.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
Terry J. Maurer, P.E.
TJM:sw
Ltr-091703-property owners
May 12, 2004
Jack Longie
12925 Mississippi Road
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Jack,
I have had several conversations with members of city staff since you and your neighbor
appeared at Open Mike regarding the assess~nent for the Boston-Concord area.
I realize that the $17.000 assessment you and your neighbors received is a hefty sum but
the cost was known before the assessment hearing. The majority of homeowners in the
neighborhood wanted to go ahead with the project despite the cost.
The City settled with Mrs. Roach on a figure less than the $17,000 but if our legal
expenses were added to her assessment, the figure would go above the figure assessed to
the rest of your neighborhood.
In my discussions with staff we went through several different options in an attempt to
come up a plan to refund a small amount to you and your neighbors. Every plan we came
up with had flaws. Some were discriminatory and others would set bad precedents for
future city projects.
In conclusion I have not been able to come up with any equitable way to provide you any
relief. I have discussed this with the City Council and they agree that there is nothing we
can do for you.
I know this sounds like a cop-out but I really did try to come up with a solution. Several
people in your neighborhood have sold their houses since the improvement project was
completed. Several others have already hooked up to sewer and water. There were too
many variables to deal with.
I'm sorry it didn't work out. You will have to take whatever action you deem appropriate.
Sincerely,
John Dietz
Ward 1 Coucilmember