Agenda - Council - 04/25/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I DEAR FRIENDS AND N~IGHBORS, Please allow ~his letter to serve as an introduction. I'm Patrick McLafferty, I have a foster ho~e in Ramsey for 6 children now. We moved here to Ramsey after purchasing the hom~ at 7321 154th Lane last spring. I have been a ~oster parent for over 16 years. I've been licensed for regular foster care, as a melter for emergency placements, for respite and as a treatment foster home. I have been li~censed for up to 8 children for many years at my former hc~e. I recently was info~ed by City of Ramsey that I- now must apply for a "special conditional use p~._'.t" in order to be licensed again for up to 8 children instead of the 6 I am now ilicensed for in Ramsey. The City, as part of this process, has sent neighbors with~ 350 feet of our home, notices of this. I received one of the notices myself and ~ooking at it from a neighbors' perspective, I thought it could. be kind of scary s~ I thought perhaps a letter of introduction might be in .order along with letting !you all know, I already have been licensed for 6 for the laswt year here. In essence, we are only asking for an increase of only 2 children. The boys and ~ built a large addition on this home last sunxner. Many of you may have heard all ~of the hammering and sawing going on. We increased the square footage inside our }hc~e by over 2,000 feet. We did this with the purpose in mind of sharing our homeI with other needy kids who don't have a home. I was totally~ unaware of all of the special conditions Anoka county and the City of Ramsey wet% going to impose on us. I did contact both the County and the City before I beg.~ this project but neither one. came forward with all of these rules and regulatigns at that time. Only after committing our lifes savings and all of last summer ~to this project and being practically 90% done did these rules cc~e to light. Never the less, we are trying our best to accom~cdate all of the parties involved. I invite any o~ you who might have concerns or worries to please feel free to call us at our hc~ which is 427-9637 or to just drop over and visit us any time. Like I said earlier, we have already been here for almost a year and many of you close neighbors have met most of us already and know us. I am w~rried that the cold formality of .~he cities letter might worry some people. I also believed it important that ev~one realizes I am not a newcomer to this. I am a professional who has been doing lit for a long time. I am home here on a full-time basis and am always available. If any of you [would care to meet myself or my wife and are unable to ccme by for a visit, pleas$ just call and w~'ll be happy to meet and speak with you. I want everyone'to b~ comfortable and secure in the knowledge that these children are no different t~.~an anyone elses .children except that mine are "borrowed". At t_he .~ment, 2 of my~ boys are on the Anoka . Highs Honors list,r 2 work jobs in the cc~munity and 1 is going to Technical College. I feel s~t sad and disappointed with the City of Ramsey singling out foster homes and even sadder that foster children themselves should be treated in this manner. It's t~.ugh enough to come from a broken home and have that to deal with. Being singled ~out this way hurts. One of my boys asked me, "why aren't other families told they ~have to go through all of this if they want more children?' It broke my heart not to have an answer for him. What would you say? Please call me{ with any questions or co~ents and I hope I can rely on your support on the nigh~ of Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ramsey City Hall. Thank you very: much for your time and~upport. Patrick and Ann McLafferty and boys.