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Mr. Corsted stated that is it, the overhead of a permitted site is no longer tenable for this type of <br />business. <br />Councilmember Elvig asked if they have another location to store and stockpile materials until <br />they are sold. <br />Mr. Corsted stated businesses need to consolidate and this site is no longer working for the <br />company so they would like to terminate the lease and turn the property back to the City. He <br />stated the company has the ability to continue to operate. <br />John Bury, principal of B &C, stated when they came to Ramsey and approached the City about <br />what they wanted to do, build a facility that fits with the surrounding area and has a purpose, <br />they thought it was a service to offer the City. They started the application in 1992, delivered a <br />check to the City for $60,000 a year later and were then hauling in equipment to process. He <br />stated their improvements included blacktopping the roadway into their site, a landscape <br />architect to draw plans for the facility, a permanent scale, sprinkler systems, planted trees, and <br />installed a sidewalk, creating a first -class facility. Mr. Bury stated he was not able to find one <br />complaint about their operation but the problem he has is with contractors that are allowed to <br />haul in rubble and charge to dump because it takes away their revenue stream. He complimented <br />the efforts of former Assistant Community Development Director Sylvia Frolik, who was always <br />responsive when a violator was found to halt the operation and when the violator said they could <br />not afford to haul out the material, it was processed at their site. Mr. Bury stated this has <br />happened over and over and now they are asking the City to show leniency because it had <br />become cost prohibitive for them to haul out the material so again they would process it. He <br />stated City staff has always wanted to do the right thing and they do put a stop to violators but <br />that process takes away from his business and investment. Mr. Bury stated it has occurred at <br />least three times and the last time they were denied a permit, hauled stuff back in, and was then <br />issued a permit. He noted that initially, there were two processors in Ramsey, which gave the <br />City a good competitive situation, but once the City allowed contactors in, It no longer works for <br />his business. Mr. Bury pointed out that two years ago, when the City approached him with a <br />tentative prospective company looking to come into Ramsey and bring in a lot of jobs, he had <br />cooperated when asked to vacate the front part of the property. However, the cost to move his <br />business to the back of the property exceeded what it would cost to buy him out. Mr. Bury <br />described the equipment and resources currently at the site and explained that after several <br />meetings with former Assistant City Administrator Heidi Nelson, said he would move to the <br />back of the property and that is what happened but after a year, nothing happened. Mr. Bury <br />explained that after the initial conversation, he started winding down his business. He asked the <br />City to entertain what he is bringing to the table, noting he was receptive to do what the City had <br />asked of him because it was good for the City. However, now it is not working for him so he <br />would like the City to consider his request. <br />Mayor Strommen asked about the timing and why the 18 -month notice is a hardship at this point <br />in time. <br />City Council Work Session / February 5, 2013 <br />Page 4 of 18 <br />