Laserfiche WebLink
City'Council Minutes <br />April 4, 1988 <br /> <br />Bud Houlton, property owner, indicated his support for the project. He <br />stated that creating an environment and atmosphere for the downtown area <br />is very important. Mr. Houlton stated the First National Bank would be <br />willing to contribute one extra unit ($3,750) towards the cost of the <br />project. <br /> <br />Duane Kropuenske, Senior Officer of the First National Bank, indicated <br />he was in favor of the project. Mr. Kropuenske stated that by adding up <br />the total assessment and dividing it out on a per month basis, the <br />figure is somewhere around $30 to $40 per month. He indicated this is a <br />relatively small price to pay to attract business to Elk River. <br /> <br />Mr. Ron Kuhn, property and business owner, stated his opposition due to <br />the fact that the commercial properties west of Lowell are not included <br />in the assessment district and also that the properties east of his <br />business will receive more benefit than his property. He indicated he <br />would like to see the project vetoed until the Council has a chance to <br />look at the benefitting properties and assess them according to benefit <br />received. <br /> <br />Mike Rafferty proposed a different assessment method at this time which <br />he indicated was a more fair method than that being proposed by the City <br />Council. He indicated that his method would increase the financial <br />burden of the large properties and decrease the financial responsibility <br />of the smaller properties. This proposal is placed on record with the <br />official City Council minutes. <br /> <br />Mr. Jim Mulroy, business owner of Snyder Drug, indicated that he is in <br />favor of the project. <br /> <br />Mr. Rob VanValkenberg, property and business owner of three parcels, <br />indicated he was in favor of the project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Tralle indicated that both the Governor's Design Team and <br />the 2001 group have heavily encouraged the City to work on the downtown <br />area. He indicated the downtown beautification would serve as a major <br />focal part of the community and it would encourage retail growth and <br />also encourage people to shop in the downtown area. Councilmember <br />Tralle stated that the front footage assessment method was unfair in <br />that the large property owners do not receive much more benefit than the <br />small property owners. He further indicated that the Council should <br />possibly look at extending the assessment district to the commercial <br />properties west of Lowell since these properties are within a <br />commercially zoned area. <br /> <br />Robert Dare, business owner and property owner, stated that he is not <br />against the cost of the project but opposes the fact that the commercial <br />properties west of Lowell Avenue are not included. <br /> <br />Elmer Anderson, property and business owner, thanked the Council for all <br />they have done so far for the downtown beautification project. He <br />indicated his support of the project. <br /> <br />Mr. Keith Holme, business owner, indicated his support for the project. <br /> <br /> <br />