Minutes - Council - 10/21/1976 - Special

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-2- C. 10/21/76 SPECIAL MEETING Mr. Steffen reviewed percentage criteria involved in the EDA grant. Mr. Boarman presented location map to illustrate where the proposed facility will be located. A site map showing the building layout and fire station also presented. He said there will be landscaping along the drive. A full basement to be placed under city hall for mechanical with partitions having a lower lobby pistol range or whatever. 5,500 square feet proposed for the basement~ 5,800 first level - city hall; 4,600 square feet in the fire department. He will be finishing up these drawings as preliminary work for the submittal. Cost $200,000 for the main floor, $60,000 for the basement; $130,000 for the fire station~ parking, drives, grading, landscaping $38,000. Mrs. Drexler, 6505 162nd Lane, asked if it is common practice to have a fire station across the road from an elementary school? Jack Boarman said the idea of it being across the street from the school, if it were an identical curb cut, you may have a problem, but from his viewpoint it is not. The access is moved for the fire drive even further to the North than the original access of the design. He added that an alarm system could be installed. Mrs. Drexler, questioned if alternative sites had been considered? Councilman Reimann replied that three sites were proposed and this one was chosen. Mrs. Drexler said the bond issue for the municiPal building was voted down because of the site. Mayor Cox reported that the citizens are paying for this city hall whether they get it or not. It is coming out of Federal tax dollars and there are only so many projects that will be given funding. You have had the opportunity to review the proposal, the increase in building cost has been indicated since the first proposal. This project will provide a combination of a fire station which will reduce insurance rates more than enough. You had an opportunity to object to a city hall in Ramsey. We are an economically depressed area and this will provide jobs for people in the area. Out of our taxes 7% goes to the City, 66% to the school district and 23% to the COunty. The County just built a 2.6 million dollar addition and we did not even get to vote on it. Mrs. Drexler said that she did not want it there and it can't expand there and she doesn't want it by the school. Councilman Reimann saidthatthey had a chance to vote on whether to have a city hall, not on the site. There is an option to buy more land~".,J~ .;" ~.~ . .... , ~ Mr. Steffen said this grant is an anti-unemployment idea and it may not be available next year. Council has the right to make this decision. We are working on a Federal time table. Mr. John Schutz said if we are allocated money, do we have to use it right away? Mr. Steffen answered that the project must be started 90 days after approval. Mr. Donald Walker asked how optimistic Mr. Steffen is on the grant application, what is Ramsey's status? Mr. Steffen replied it is a very high priority project and that he went through this earlier. Ramsey has high priority.