05-16-1983 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes May 16, 1983 Page Seven The following people appeared before the City Council expressing their desires for the City Council to authorize the improvement project. Mr. Jim Tralle, Mr. Richard Frey, Mr. Larry Sitts, Ms. Annabelle Hoag, Mr. Tim Ostrom, Mr. Dave Showers, Mr. John Waldron, Ms. Jan Anderson, Mr. Peter Leinonen, Mr. Collin Jones, Ms. Norma Lemke, and Mr. Jim Bofenkamp. Some of the concerns expressed by the above listed people in favor of the improvement project were their concern for liability should an accident happen on the private roads, their concern of the friction that is now going on within the neighborhood, the danger of the gravel roads and their condition, the fact that it would cost more to upgrade the road and maintain it over a long period of time than to have the City put in the road improvements and assess the costs, the validity of the road maintenance agreements with the developer, the inability to obtain mortgages or to sell their homes because of the property located on private roads, and the fact that the improvement will have to be done sooner or later. The following persons appeared before the City Council in opposition of the road improvement, Ms. Kitty Omitt, Ms. Rita Hershey, Mr. Terry Hawkinson, Mr. Ron Wurm, Mr. Dennis Moore, Mr. John Lucas, Ms. Judy Moore, Ms. Debbie Hawkinson, Ms. Darlene Jacobsen, Mr. Jake Jacobsen, and Mr. Dick Hershey. The reasons against the road improvements expressed by the abovementioned persons were specifically the cost and that the homeowners could not afford the assessment that would be placed upon their property, the fact that a blacktop road is not necessary, and that the Homeowners Agreement would work if everyone would support the Association and pay their dues. Discussion was carried on regarding the cost of improving the gravel road with the addition of some Class Five and the future maintenance of the road versus the cost of improving the road to City standards and assessing the cost. Mr. Rollie Christian appeared before the City Council questioning the method of assessment to his property. Mr. Christian indicated that the City could not arbitrarily divide his property. The City Administrator indicated that the City did not divide his property, but proposed an assessment as though the property was divided into three sections. Further discussion was carried on regarding the method of assessment of the estimated cost of the improvement project. Further discussion was carried on regarding the possibility of selling homes on private roads, and the possibility of obtaining mortgages for homes on private roads. Discussion was also carried on regarding benefit of the property and increased value. Mayor Hinkle indicated that he felt it was not a good situation, therefore, did not want any part of it, and would not vote for or against the improvement. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that he did not want any part of any lawsuits as was the case in the Peterson Addition. Councilmember Duitsman indicated that he did not agree with Mayor Hinkle and