Agenda - Council - 07/10/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Holasek replied that the dollar amount was an assumption of what the cost would have been. He stated that when the City obtained the easements to drain into the pond they should have received easements to get an outlet from the pond. The City already knew in 1996 that they could not get an outlet through Anoka. He inquired if there had been a feasibility study done to run the pipe on the north side of the railroad tracks. City Engineer Jankowsld replied that they did consider that option, but if a pipe was located on the north side of the tracks a pipe would still be needed on the south side of the tracks. Mr. Holasek stated that there would only need to be a drainage pipe under the track if the pipe were on the north side of the tracks. City Engineer Jankowski replied that the pipe going on the south side of the track would be the same as what has been proposed. Mr. Holasek read the following petition: "Please add the following comments to our petition of January 9, 2001, and the additional information we added to it February 27, 2001. Again we respectfully ask the City Council to consider our request to not construct the above project and to drop its condemnation action and storm sewer tax on our properties. The reasons for this are clearly stated in our petition presented January 9, 2001, and our addition to it on February 27, 2001. We find it incomprehensible that the City of Ramsey would condemn our property to construct a storm sewer pipe on it that currently does not need storm water drainage, For the City of Ramsey to attempt to correct their engineering mistake of failing to construct an outlet to their Business Park 95 Pond when they built it in 1996 by now using eminent domain laws to build it on our property is inconceivable. It violates every recognized ethical and moral principal of good government. But then for the City to make you pay for a storm sewer outlet pipe from their Business Park Pond by levying an unrealistic sewer tax that raises our real estate taxes paid to the City of Ramsey by over 300 percent is unbelievable. Presently most of this property, with the .exception' of the new Zitco Development, is not developed extensively enough to bring in revenue to support this high storm sewer tax. This places a real hardship on these property owners. Therefore, we again respectfully ask the City Council to drop its eminent domain proceedings and storm sewer tax on our property and build the outlet to their Business Park Pond on the north side of the BNSFE railroad tracks where the City already has storm sewer easements. However, if the City Council will not honor this request of ours and insists upon trying to force this storm sewer pipe on us along with the unrealistic storm sewer tax that our property cannot support, then we ask the City to consider an out fight purchase of our property at fair market value." Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the Council had given the City Administrator authorization to discuss the possibility of the City acquiring the properties with the property owners and inquired as to what has happened since that time. I I I I ! I I, I -64- City Council/June 12, 2001 Page 8 of 19 I I