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City Council <br />July 2, 2004 <br />Page Two <br /> <br />If the City Council were to direct that the gravel portion of 221st Avenue be paved in <br />anticipation that the money could be recovered if a development adjacent to this portion <br />of roadway were to occur in the near future, staff feels that it would be very difficult to <br />recover all of the City's investment, and may be difficult to recover any of the <br />investment. No developer wants to market a new development from a gravel road, and <br />is therefore generally willing to do the paving leading up to their development. If the <br />paving is completed, it is more likely that the developer, if asked to pay for the City's <br />investment, will look at it like an assessment whereby the development would pay for <br />the half of the road their development sits on and the frontage that it covers of the <br />paved portion. <br /> <br />The mention in Mr. Steiner's letter that the Ridges of Rice Lake has received little or no <br />street sweeping/maintenance is due to the fact that the developers essentially are still <br />responsible for the roads in the development. The final lift of bituminous has not been <br />placed on the roadways as of this time. It is anticipated this work will be completed in <br />the summer of 2004, at which time the City will take over maintenance and operation of <br />the roadways. Presently, the City's maintenance department only plows the snow from <br />the roadways. Once the roads are completed, they will be swept, crack sealed, and <br />seal coated in a normal rotation with all other residential roadways within the City of Elk <br />River. <br /> <br /> 7. It is also important to mention that all families in Ridges of Rice Lake acquired and/or <br /> built their homes with 221st Avenue in the condition that currently exists. Staff has from <br /> time to time received calls asking what the City's plans are for completing the paving of <br /> the roadway; the answer always given is that as future development occurs on the <br /> gravel stretch of roadway, the City will work with the developer to pave the remaining <br /> portion. <br /> <br /> 8. There have been some initial discussions with Sherburne County that 221st Avenue <br /> may make a good candidate for turnback from the City to the County at some point in <br /> the future for continuation of County Road 21 west of TH 169. <br /> <br />City staff is looking for direction from the Council on how to react to the request from the Ridges of <br />Rice Lake Homeowners' Association. City staff could prepare an analysis of the cost and internal <br />funding scenarios available for paving this portion of 221st Avenue. If it is the Council's desire to <br />proceed with this request, this work could likely be completed in 2004 <br /> <br />I will be at your July 6, 2004, City Council meeting to discuss this issue further. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Howard R. Green Company <br /> <br />Terry J. Maurer, P.E. <br /> <br />TJM:sw <br /> <br />S:\Engineer\pave221 .doc <br /> <br />Howard R. Green Company <br /> <br /> <br />