Agenda - Council - 07/27/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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07/09/2004 06:25 6125449452 gILL BERKNER PAGE 02 TO: FROM: RE: DATE: RAMSEY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS STEVE & CHRISTY DUSBABEK EASEMENT ON 160TM LANE NW 7/8/O4 City Council Members, We would like to take this opportunity to reacquaint thc Council concerning the access options for the current home construction by Mr. Crregg Bauer, and the future "Trappers Ridge" development. We were hopeful that when it was discovered that the City had mistakenly given permission to Mr. Bauer to cut in a road across our property for access purposes, that this un£ortunate situation would be quickly resolved. We have now waited patiently for six months and feel that there has been very little progress in resolving this issue. We have been in contaci with Mr. Bauer and he has been giving us updates as to his construction time tables. The importance of this is two fold. Firstly, we felt that a mutual and satisfactory agreement between us and the City concerning the damage to our property could have been reached before Mr. Bauer was forced to make a decision to cut in a second road that would come directly behind us on the property line for the majority of our westerly edge. Secondly, at that point we would be open to discussion on easement acquisition possibilities to stave off the Construction of that second road and eliminate the fmther erosion of our solitude and privacy. We thought that this would be a possibility when the City Council ordered and received, an appraisal concerning the damage to our property. It is now our understanding that the Council has ordered a second appraisal relating to the condemnation and subsequent taking of the property. While we originally were opposed to this prospect, circumstances have softened our view point on this matter. If the city did make an offer on the damages, in. all fairness to ourselves, we would have a second opinion done in the'form of another appraisal. This will take a minimum of three to four weeks. Unfortunately we don't have that much time as Mr. Bauer has indicated the he needs to make a decision by August 1~t. We feel that, given the constricted time table, their may be one possibility to keep the mad behind us fi-om being constructed, and give Mr. Bauer a better and less expensive access, and that is for the City to exercise its power of"Eminent Domain", and take the property. This will th.eh give the City and ourselves more time to reach a fair and equitable settlement to this unfortunate situation. It is only a matter of time before the easement acquisition issue will arise again. As we are all aware, property values will only continue to rise. Regardless of what your decision is, we are only asking that a decision on your part be made quickly and a sense of importance and urgency be applied to this situation.