Agenda - Public Works Committee - 01/19/1999

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December 21, 1998 NalTie Address Ramsey, MN 55303 RE: Trunk Highway #47 STP Project Dear (Salutation): As you are aware, it had been anticipated that by late November, the City would be meeting with property owners along Trunk Highway #47 to make offers for the acquisition of their property for the highway project. The City has completed the appraisals of the properties, and they have been reviewed by an independent appraiser. Although City Council has authorized offers in the amount of these values, these authorizations needed to be made contingent upon the Federal Highway Administration issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the project. This project milestone has been delayed over the issue of whether the intersection of #47 and 142nd Avenue should be signalized as a part of the project. Presentl , the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Trunk Highway #47, with the signal issue at 142nd Avenue unresolved, has been signed by FHWA and Mn/DOT and has been forwarded to the Environmental Quality Board for publication in the EQB Monitor on December 28, 1998. The subsequent 30-day comment period will end on January 27, 1999. The City's consultant w~uld then compile all comments received and prepare a Record of Decision responding to the comments. The City of Ramsey would then pass resolution of Negative Declaration on the need for an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The Negative Declaration would be passed on to FHWA (through Mn/DOT) and FHW'A would issue the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSt). Based upon this sequence, we now estimate the FONSI could be complete by the end of February. Several residents have asked me whether I could reveal the mount of the appraisal. I have been advised by the City Attorney that the appraisal amount can be revealed; however, the appraisal itself cannot be viewed. If you wish to know the amount of the appraisal, please feel free to call me. Finally, after discussing the time frame of the project, I'd also like to advise that the earliest mandatory date for vacating the parcel has been extended to August 31, 1999. This means that you may vacate the property earlier than that date, but in no event would you be required to vacate any sooner.