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right now — and also trying to facilitate the Pearson farm. He stated he is not opposed to <br />Sunfish, Ramsey and Armstrong Boulevards getting overpasses but he does not want to <br />pay for them. It's in the freeway plan and he does not want to chase money. <br />Director of Public Works Olson agreed 100 percent. He did not want the City to pay for <br />this either. He stated he has been hearing that MnDOT cannot get it on the stick to get <br />federal money but then you cannot get federal money until you get it on the stick. If we <br />are serious about this freeway status, we had better get on that quick but if we are <br />spending $30 million on the overpass scenario, can we try to include the Pearson farm. <br />Ramsey Crossings is an expansion of the Town Center now — maybe talk about a "big <br />box" scenario. <br />Mayor Ramsey stated that when we were in Altoona, we heard positives about having a <br />main thoroughfare through our center rather than on the edge. By doing this interchange <br />now, that would give MnDOT an incentive. They would see this is already done and they <br />would get Highway #10 on the radar. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated that Mr. Olson mentioned up to three times more the <br />traffic than on Highway 10 — traffic on that bridge would be bigger than anything we <br />have now. <br />Mr. Olson stated that MnDOT does not want it — Anoka County does. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated that anyone coming over there will be able to look down <br />on the project — no one will mind that, providing it can be accessed. He stated he is also <br />not in favor of paying for it. He did not see a problem with losing two westerly ramps. <br />Mr. Olson added as long as you have access from the west side. <br />Councilmember Look sated he is advocating to do a portion of that. <br />Mr. Olson asked then how will you justify a short interchange 25 years from now. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated you could argue local access like Coon Rapids did — <br />almost the same function provides local access. <br />Councilmember Wise felt that you create problems when it comes to upgrading though. <br />Mr. Olson talked about short-term fixes. <br />Councilmember Look stated he understands the arguments in terms of jeopardizing the <br />Armstrong overpass and asked what if they eliminate that overpass. <br />Mr. Olson stated that one concern is the separation between and bridge crossing and local <br />access and the other will be Anoka's concerns about doing this. MnDOT has always said <br />let's move the freeway from east to west. The other is what happens when we separate <br />City Council Work Session — September 29, 2009 <br />Page 4 of 11 <br />