Agenda - Council - 07/26/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # 4 DRAI~NAGE IN SECTION #22 TRIBUTARY TO COUNTY DITCH #3 By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: At the July 12, 1994 Council meeting, Mr. Terry Hendriksen appeared during citizen input and requested a review of the drainage concerns in Section #22 he brought to the attention of the CoUncil at the May 10, 1994 meeting. You will recall that at the May 10, 1994 meeting, the Council agreed to meet with Mr. Hendriksen and other area residents. This meeting was held on May 18, 1994 and, in addition to representatives from five (5) properties!in the area, was attended by Councilmembers Hardin and Zimmerman and Mayor Gilbertson. There was no consensus from this meeting on a single particular course of action, iHowever, a May 26, 1994 letter sent to the meeting participants, specified four (4) areas where the City would be pursuing this issue. The City of Ramsey agreed to clean the existing culverts on 156th Lane N.W., which had been parti011y filled with sediment. The City authorized a local contractor to excavate the material oJn either side of two culverts on June 17, 1994. This work was actually performed~by the contractor on June 27, 1994. Material from within the ditch was partially flushed oat by several storm events. The City of Ramsey contracted with the City of Anoka to flush the remaining debris from the east culvert on July 18, 1994. The City Of Ramsey agreed to solicit the assistance of Anoka County by requesting informati°n on the condition of County Ditch #3, which provides the drainage outlet for this area. A letter to County Engineer Paul Ruud, requesting their assistance, was sent on May 24, }994. A response was received from the County on June 28, 1994. This response, Which is enclosed, indicates that, upon inspection of the ditch by the County, a beaver da~ south of Xenon Street N.W. was found and removed. A copy of the County ditch inventory was also attached. The inventory describes this ditch as poorly maintained. Since its construction in 1889, the drainage way has never been thoroughly re-ditched. MaintenanCe has consisted of removing obstructions as (hey are discovered. The City agreed to refer any wetland filling to the attention of the Department of Natural Resources.; Phone calls were made by the City of Ramsey to Conservation Officer Jason Jenson on May 4, May 10, and May 11, I994. A meeting was held with City Staff and Lieutenant Kathy Harem, the District Conservation Officer overseeing wetland violations in this district. Ms. Hamm viewed the area and indicated that she would issue citations and refer a request for a determination on the .jurisdiction of the wetland area north of 153rd Avenue N.W. to the Waters Division of the Department of Natural Resources. A response from department on its authority over this area is still pending. The City of Ramsey agreed to review any prior commitments it may have made to establish a ditch sys~m between 153rd and 156th Lane N.W. On February 14, 1989, City Council passed ResOlution #89-02-21. Apparently, the purpose of this resolution was to authorize $2,500 for ~inor grading and culvert installation to provide a drainage outlet to the area adjacent td 156th Avenue N.W. The accompanying consent agenda minutes for this meeting alio suggest it was the intention of the resolution to authorize Staff to obtain waivers of trespass from affected property owners to allow drainage improvements to be done. In tilking to former City Engineer Pete Raatikka, I was told that not ail of the affected larld owners would agree to allow the ditching work to be completed. As a result of this, the ~itching elements of the drainage improvements were not done. It is not known whether the~City Council or the City Attorney were informed of the inability to obtain these easements. ~ However, culverts were placed in the location of 156th Avenue N.W. and Ramsey BOulevard N.W., and also under a driveway south of 156th Avenue N.W. to provide drainage to continue southward.