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Mayor Hardin stated that this alignment is not cast in stone and reiterated there is a meeting regarding same On Monday. Dick Church, 168th Avenue N.W., Rarnsey, inquired if, when the City gave the layout to the engineering fa'm last fall, they knew there was a nature learning area there at that time. He stated that tliis is a fragile area with a lot of potential and it will take years to recover from any damal~e. He suggested moving the line out of the area. He added that it is our children and grahdchildren who will truly benefit from this. He felt the land is worth more as a learning area. Councilmember Beyer stated she does not want to see more trees destroyed. Mr. Jankowski Sported that the soil borings are done. It would have been difficult to do that without anyldamage. The workers did what they were told. The school site engineer was contacted bat he was not aware if the school principal was. Rod Kuehn, 17B86 Sodium Street N.W., Ramsey, reported on the importance of the 'Environmental Learning Area (ELA). The State mandates we have environmental education. We are very lucky to have this area. We are trying to produce the best natural science education in the State. This is hands-on science. He stated that our ELA has sustained some ~mage; however, we are going to try to strengthen the learning by having the students rectify the problem. The children will see results of their efforts. Mr. Kuehn explained the le ~ixning stations, the computerized inventory of the plants, the sightings of animals, etc. H~ reported that the fence line for this project will go through Learning Station #1 and Will possibly kill the jack pines and white pines in the area. All the pasque flowers will be,gone which means that half of the blooming population will be wi1~ed out. The best plum c}Umps will be destroyed. The wetland is the best place for listening to the birds and the tr~s and it is a "hot" wildflower area. The plant species affecting the land form will be los[. Mosses will be destroyed and it will be a very long time before it will come back. After these natural plantings are stripped down, the weeds will grow there. This will become a dead zone for the teachers, students and community as well. Mr. Kuehn reported ~at the persons working in the area, drove the tank through and knocked down full-grow~trees and went through the middle of a strawberry patch. The effects of that tank will be felt by the students for a long time. Natalie JuskiewiCz, 151st Lane N.W., Ramsey, summarized the types of trees that would be destroyed ami reported on the wild flowers she has planted in the area. She felt there has to be another iway to do this project. Beth Mitchell, $$00 - 176th lane N.W., Ramsey, stated that last year she had cancer and she still worked On that u:all - and had a good time doing so. She added that she doesn't have any children and that this gave her the opportunity to meet people. She suggested that this area is an educational opportunity for the whole community. We built something and we did it together- parents, children and teachers. Ms. Mitchell stated that everyone here is here because this~is important to us. We drive 40 miles to go to work but we live here in Ramsey because We like it here. We need to develop this well throughout endearing plan. We can say we liave homes, not just houses. We need to stop ignoring what's akeady here. We need tO work on our parklands. Stop and think what we have. We do not have to be a Maple Grove or a St. Louis Park. Stop, think, make Ramsey a place we always. want to come home to. City Council/March 28, 1995 Page 3 of 13