Agenda - Council - 01/14/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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system. That was almost $100,000 of benefit outside of our development plus $30,000+ in park fees. That's how it's set up. When you do a development, the developers are responsible to deal with these items. There's a lot of misunderstandings of this ordinance. You are talking about values. There is value to City sewer and water. The amount depends on the house, locations, etc. In most cases, if you sell your house and City sewer and water is available, to get a mortgage, you have to hook up. The three lots you are talking about are large lots. They can handle a large septic and water system. They can keep their systems running forever. He commented that he lived in an area of 80-foot lots and the State came in and we had to do something because of a chance of contamination. We have areas in the City to do "downtown planning" for. We should look into that. You have to go to an outside architect engineering fu'm but you could see ff anyone is interested in this. He added that he is a Ramsey resident and he is interested in his City. He likes it here but he feels that many of the residents are misconstrued on what's happening with this Charter amendment. There are good and bad things. The amendment was jammed through because it was not done in the fall when all residents are present for voting. It was pushed through. He felt this type of issue should be dealt with at the time of a general election. Mr. Edmundson added that this does not concern many residents at this point. He felt we are looking at something that is not as big an issue as we are making it out to be. Mr. Hendriksen stated the following: 1) If every subdivision was done the way the Brandseth one was, no one would have to pay for sewer and water to an addition. 2) We need to put an end to this bickering between Mr. Green, Mr. Deemer, etc. He stated he wrote the Charter amendment during the summer. He picked the wording and gave it to the Charter for review. He stated that when he became aware that the City would not finish the project, he wondered if he should write this to exclude these people, but he let it fall. The City felt the project would be done as they had proposed it. R/ck Christian, 7330 - 155th Avenue NW, Ramsey, felt this issue should be tabled and the new Council should deal with it. He added that it's nice to hear who wrote all this up. He asked who gave permission to write this. He felt that Mr. Schroeder, who lives in St. Paul, could care less about the citizens in Ramsey. He suggested Mr. Schroeder is trying to find loop holes - he wants to look good on his resume. He needs to get his priorities squared away. One of the good things I could say is you do not have to hook up until you are ready. Now with that assessment, you are putting on me, I cannot pay for water and sewer and add that on to the top of what I want to sell my house for. He reiterated this should be dealt with by the new City Council. Tom Gamec stated there are a lot of new real estate laws coming into effect now relating to assessments. One home he knows of that had a new septic system, could not sell because it not meet the latest criteria with regard to septic systems. They had to put in $16,000 worth of upgrade in order to sell that home. In speaking with a few Realtors, he has learned that it's more difficult to sell a home on private systems now. The laws need to be reviewed. We need to know how to protect the seller also. In defense of Mr. Schroeder, he stated they have disagreed on a few things but Mr. Schroeder has helped to cause of a lot of good commercial development in the City of Ramsey. City Council has to make a decision on all of this and he feels the key is to educate people. He stated he has lived in Ramsey for 26 years and he feels this is a very sensitive issue to deal with. This happens to be one issue with three homes. "I cannot see this City Council or any other City Council that would shove City sewer and water down people's throats if they do not want it. It's time to cure the distrust of the government. It's difficult for City Council to explain what happens with sewer and water, but the City needs the help of the people too." Mr. Schmitz stated that in this form of government, the government gets its rights to rule from the people. The constitution says that all fights not given to the federal, government are given to the state and from the state to the people. Where we dump our sewer is our fight. City Council/December 10, 1996 Page 14 of 25 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I