11-19-1979 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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increased cost of $5.00 per acre on each of the eligible units for the rail signal light crossing. Mayor Madsen declared the public hearing Open and asked any individuals present who had' comments ,to address the Council at this time. Mr. ,Cliff Lundberg addressed the City Council and indicated . ~~~ ~~;i;~.:-:t:~e ~:l t~at.::~=.i~b~~S::.~c~:~;t~t~ ... .... Council should consider,reserving a certain amount' of. the cost of the' pro- jectfor future assessments to additional property which may eventua1~ utilize the rail crossing. Mr. Lundberg also asked why therewa$ a dif;" ference in the assessment being shown at this meeting from that contained in the City Clerk's office prior to the meeting. The City Administrator indicated that the assessment roll as presented at this meeting was cOrrected to accurate~ reflect the City Council policy of not assessing farm land for the improvements in question and that farm land had" inadvertently been included in the assessment roll contained in the Clerk's office Prior to the hearing. Ms. Roberta Beauchane addressed the City Council a,.p.d indicated that since a blacktopped road would eventually link the two county roads in the vicinity, being County Road 32 and County Road 35, and since more people in the area would then benefit from the crossing, then those indi...; viduals should also be assessed for a portion of the cost of the rail crossing. Councilman otto indicated that the primary benefit of the crossing is" to the individuals in the area and, as such, they should be required to pay for the crossing and not the rest of the City. Mr. otto indicated that all other individuals in the City had to pay for streets and this subdi- vision should be no exception. Mr. Charles Christian addressed the Council and indicated he is in the process of platting a 40 acre parcel north of the Peterson Addition known as Davis Woods and that the proposed assess- ments may make the development of this parcel too expensive to be economical. Mr. Robert Fritz addressed the City Council and asked why- his property was incl~ded in the area proposed to be assessed inasmuch as he felt he had no . benefit from the rail crOSSing for which he is, propoSed to be assessed.' .. Mayor Madsen indicated that Mr. Fritz's property had been included in the area to be assessed because eventually traffic from any use estahlished,on the. property will be funneled through the rail crossing and, as such, the parcel will benefit. The City Administrator indicated that Mr. Fritz's parcel was also not in agricultural use and, as such, is not excluded as were other surrounding agricUltural properties. Mr. Wally Ohland addressed the City Council and indicated that he is opposed to the assessments .that he feele,he does not benefit from the improvements in.the,area'andhefeels that, in fact, he is penalized by having to drive further and maintain a . greater length of driveway than he currently now does. The City Administrator :indicated, to Mr. OhlaI)d, thlil.t the City would consider maintaining the con- necting roadway between Ogden Street' and' Mr. Ohland' s driveway;. it i Mr. . Ohland wished to pursue the matter. The Administrator indicated further' that' Mr. Ohland benefits from the assessment in that the crossing provides ..legal access to his property which otherwise would' be denied when' the Endsting private rail crossing was closed by the Burlington Northern Railroad. Mr. Gregg Pederson indicated that the Burlington Northern Railroad does have the right to close the existing private crossing and will do so if the pro- ject is not authorized. Councilman otto indicated that it is not too . late to cancel the City's contract with the railroad for the constrUction of the crossing and that unle$5 the residents decide now that they want the. crossing that it will be cancelled and the matter closed. The City Administrator also indicated to those present that the rail crossing serves two other pur- poses for the Peterson Addition residents and others benefiting. The crossing provides a safer means of traversing the railroad tracks as mucha.1S drop arms .'. and signal lights will be installed and, additionally, the rail crossing will' eventually provide for two means of access to the benefiting area if and