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Councilmember Zimmerman requested that the issue be brought back for further discussion. <br /> <br />5) Dirt Roads <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he has received numerous requests that dirt roads in the City be paved. <br />He stated that the cost of grading the roads has become so high so he thought it might beneficial <br />to see if there is something the City could do to assist the residents in getting the roads paved. He <br />requested that staff do some research on the cost to maintain the dirt roads and what are some of <br />the major maintenance issues that need to be done on those roads. He suggested having the City <br />give the residents a one time opportunity where the City will assist with the cost and if they <br />decline then the City will only continue to do the minimum maintenance on the dirt roads. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the City already has a policy regarding paved streets and <br />he did not think that the City should do anything more that what is stated in the policy. He felt <br />that if the dirt roads need maintenance they should be treated the same as black top streets that <br />need maintenance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Anderson stated that the initial investment is so high, which is different in a new <br />development where the street is covered as part of the purchase price of the property. She felt <br />that they should research the possibility of assisting the homeowners. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the City performs certain maintenance on blacktop streets <br />where the City pays half and the property owners pay half, if a dirt road needs to have Class V <br />brought in then he felt the process should be the same with the property owner paying half and <br />the City paying half. <br /> <br />Councilmember Anderson inquired as to whom would pay for the routine grading. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen replied that the City repairs pot holes without charging the <br />homeowners. He stated that in the overall picture the City probably spends less money on the <br />dirt roads then they do on the paved roads. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman stated that the people who live on dirt roads pay taxes just like the <br />people who live on paved roads. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the issues is that the City is treating people differently. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler suggested having staff do an analysis of the cost to <br />grade the dirt roads as well as an inventory of unpaved roads. In addition have staff put together <br />an estimate on the cost to bring the dirt roads up to minimum standards. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman stated that he would like the analysis to include the average cost of <br />a sealcoat for a homeowner. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee/March 19, 2002 <br /> Page 17 of 18 <br /> <br /> <br />