5.5. SR 03-20-1995~lk Ri
FROM: Pat Klaers, City Administrator
DATE: March 20, 1995
SUBJECT: Concord Street
This item may be moved to "Open Mike" as property owners on Concord
Street may be present. Attached for your review is the latest update on this
project from the City Engineer. This update discusses a neighborhood
meeting held this past winter.
The City Engineer will be prepared to verbally review the "bare bones"
project that could happen on Concord. This would be a 20' gravel driving
surface with no drainage improvements and this would be the least expensive
project. Also, the City Attorney will be able to address the timing issues for
condemning property, the expenses for this process, and issues with
defending assessment amounts.
•
ITEM 5.5.
MEMORANDUM
V~~ TO: Mayor & City Council
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN SS330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425
DEC 3 ~ ~9s~
NIS
' I'OISi~L1'Itilil EtiGI~EERS
1326 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55108
612-644-4389
1.800.888-2923
Fax: 612-644-9446
CIVIL ENGINEERING:
ENVIRONMENTAL
MUNICIPAL
.CANNING
SOLID WASTE
STRUCTURAL
SURVEYING
TRAFFIC
TRANSPORTATION
ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING:
HVAC
POWER DISTRIBUTION
SCADA
SYSTEM CONTROLS
OFFICES IN:
~11NNEAPOIIS
PRIOR LAKE
December 21, 1994
File: 230-212-53
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: CONCORD STREET Il1~IPROVEMENTS
Dear Council Members:
On Thursday evening, December 15, 1994, Council Member John Dietz and I attended an
informational meeting held at the Nelson residence on Concord Street. The purpose of the
meeting was to provide a forum for the neighbors to discuss the proposed street
improvement. For your reference, I have attached an exhibit, previously presented, which
shows Concord Street and the owners of each individual property. Those in attendance at
Thursday's meeting included Madden, Ward, Ostien, Johnson, Zehowski, Schaefer,
Nelson, Smith, and Haaland. Those not attending Thursday's meeting included Palmer,
Carlson, and Sohns.
At the beginning of the meeting, Council Member Dietz and I gave an update on the status
of the project. We indicated that the City had made an attempt to acquire easements. As
indicated by the attached drawing, there are still seven easements outstanding. We
indicated that three of them were not necessary to go forward with the project. Those
include McCarty, Johnson, and Zehowski. We did indicate that the other four Ward,
Palmer, Carlson, and Sohns were necessary in order for the City to proceed. We told those
in attendance that it would be highly unlikely that the City would consider condemnation
proceedings against those four properties, since, that is a costly process. The cost of
which, would need to be assessed back against the owners of the property on Concord
Street. We gave a brief description of the improvement project process, with emphasis on
the assessment hearing, and the fact that if there were major appeals to the assessment
process, once again, the City could choose to not move forward with the project, rather
than take their chances fighting an appeal in the courts.
We also briefly discussed the gravel road alternative, which was presented in the feasibility
study. We indicated that a gravel road alternative could likely be constructed with a
25-35 % reduction in the assessment to each property. We did indicate that this had not
been considered by the entire Council, and if the neighbors were to choose to move
forward with a gravel road alternative, it would have to be presented to the City Council
for their approval.
ST. PAUL
WASECA
Honorable Mayor and Council Members
December 21, 1994
- Page Two
The discussion amongst the property owners in attendance indicated that at least three
property owners Ward, Carlson, and Sohns are adamantly opposed to any type of public
takeover and improvement of the road. One additional property owner, Zehowski had
serious questions relative to drainage affecting his property, and the overall need for a
public improvement on the road. They never did clearly state whether or not they would
stand in opposition to the project.
At the time that we left the meeting, it appeared that the neighbors were dead-locked on
whether or not to move forward. We indicated that we would prepare this summary of the
meeting, and that they could come to some majority conclusion amongst themselves, they
should feel free to come back and present their recommendation to the Ciry Council for the
Council's consideration and reaction.
If you have any questions, or would like me to do any additional work on this project,
please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
• MSA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS
~,~
Te J.~ Maurer P.E.
nY
TJM:pd
Attachment
212-1913.dec
4.°
EASEMENTS SIGNED
::::;;: EASEMENTS SIGNED BUT
••••••• RETURNED AT PROPERTY
::::;:: OWNERS REWEST
M
coi~a~e ~c~s
CONCORD STREET
EASEMENT STATU S
COUNCIL MEET1NG 11 /7/94
~~
Elk 'ver