Minutes - Council - 04/23/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Council Meeting April 23, 1979, Page 8 STREET IMPROVEMENT REGARDING 161ST~.AVENUE N~W~'L¥ING'BETWEEN ARMSTRONG BLVD. N.W. AND LLAMA STREET N.W;'AND.'.LLAMA.'STREET.'N;W;'LYING'BETWEEN I61ST AVENUE N.W. AND 163RDKV'E'NUE'N.W.. Mayor Gamec asked for comments in regards to the Engineer's proposed five alternatives to finance this project. Councilman Sorteberg asked how much money the City had available to spend. Mayor Gamec replied, none. Councilman Cox said the Council could look at it another way, Gorham's Sandy Acres was budgeted for and that amount may be available to use. Councilman Cox stated that Councilman Mickelson and Street Superintendent Mevissen in their report on "Street Maintenance Project" of January or February indicated Whispering Pines #3 in good condition, 161st west should be blacktopped. There are two housing developments creating traffic to and fro. This is a proposed capital improvement project in the first place. Mayor Gamec suggested that the Council could consider leaving the road the way it is and escrow money from the developer to improve the road at a later date. Street Superintendent Mevissen stated it could be maintained at what it is now but that it may need more gravel from time to time, however that this particular road should be graded everyday. Councilman Cox reported that 157th, Puma and Bowers Drive were capital improvement projects and that this road would be the only one left undone under the improvement projects and that if the road is left in a dirt condition the City would incur expense of maintaining it with graders and operators and budget for this along with sealcoating and different equipment than what the City has now. Mayor Gamec suggested having the Committee look at streets similar to this and not do anything on this street now, but do,,all these streets together. Councilman Cox questioned how this road would be maintained in the meantime. Certain roads receive a lot of pressure and this one would have to be graded each day, it would mean sending out equipment for just this section of road. A man in the audience asked Engineer Raatikka under normal circumstances in a given area how long would a gravel road last if it weren't getting use from heavy equipment. Engineer Raatikka replied that it is hard to answer, depends on volumn of traffic, speed, and he noted that gravel will be graded off with each snowfall. Attorney Goodrich advised the Council that should an assessment project be done it would be the City's burden to show that the property assessed has increased in value at least to the extent of the assessment.