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establishment of drainage districts and how the project would benefit the district, not <br />necessarily each person assessed. He summarized the project history and what had been <br />done up to tonight. He also explained the major benefits and stated the approximate costs. <br /> <br />Rod Caouette, 17320 Driscoll Street N.W., Ramsey, stated that where he lives, everything <br />around him is up hill. At Baugh Street, the ditches are running over the road - he inquired <br />how that would get to the Rum River. He reiterated with everything up hill, he should not <br />have to pay for a problem he does not have. He inquired if Mr. Jankowski's statement was <br />that everyone will benefit from this project. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski replied his comment was that the district would benefit. He reported that <br />since the drainage districts were formed in 1986, this is the first project to be financed in <br />this manner. <br /> <br />Mr. Caouette inquired if Mr. Jankowski has received any bids on this project as he feels <br />that the $27 - 28,000 estimate seems too conservative. He suggested it would probably <br />cost three to four times more than that amount. <br /> <br />Terrence Mox, 16530 Yolite Street N.W., Ramsey, inquired if the $7.49 amount per <br />resident was a one time deal to which Mr. Jankowski replied yes. <br /> <br />Mr. Mox then inquired if the City maintains the project to which Mr. Jankowski stated that <br />the culverts will be maintained by the City at no assessed cost to the residents. <br /> <br />Mr. Mox stated that it is not the $7.49 he has a problem with, he has a problem with the <br />fact that the residents in the Rum River Drainage District have to pay for it. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski explained that this is how the districts were set up. <br /> <br />Mr. Mox inquired if this is legal under the Minnesota State Statutes. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich replied that it is. <br /> <br />Mr. Mox questioned why he even pays taxes if it doesn't cover something like this. He felt <br />the City should be able to absorb this amount and added that although taxes in the City <br />aren't terrible, they are not all that low either. <br /> <br />City Administrator Schroeder explained that the drainage district is set up in order to <br />respond to projects such as this. The Mississippi River Drainage District is a different <br />basin which is why those residents were not notified of this project. <br /> <br />Mr. Mox commented that when a project comes up, the residents in the Mississippi District <br />will "scream louder" because there are less of them. <br /> <br />Clayton Berg, 8320 - 174th Avenue N.W., Ramsey, expressed the concern that the project <br />should not be assessed on valuation; it should be on benefitted area. He stated he owns <br />property in River's Bend and the northwest area. The River's Bend property owners all <br />paid to develop a storm sewer. He could not see where this project would benefit him at <br />the River's Bend location. He inquired how many properties are affected by this project. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski replied there are about four or five outbuildings in the low point of 153rd <br />and within 1.5 feet of where the high water is. <br /> <br />Mr. Berg inquired if that is a flood plain. <br /> <br />City Council/March 14, 1995 <br /> Page 4 of 15 <br /> <br /> <br />