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that a comparison of the maintenance costs be provided. Two separate analysis approaches were <br />done. Secondly, the Committee requested that a maintenance program that would provide an <br />acceptable level of service on unpaved streets be investigated. <br /> <br />Cindy Blackstad, Chameleon Street NW, Ramsey, stated that she moved into her home six years <br />ago and there has been no upgrade of their dirt road or any Class V placed on their road in that <br />time. This year the road is in extremely bad condition making it very difficult to even drive <br />down the road. She stated that if they want to have people over they have to plan it for a time <br />when it is not going to be wet otherwise people cannot get to their house. She stated that she <br />would like to see the road paved, especially after reviewing the analysis done by staff. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman explained that there is process where residents can petition to the <br />City Council to have their road paved. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that after reviewing the analysis it is obvious that some of the dirt roads <br />have become very costly for the City to maintain. He stated that the Council needs to determine <br />if it would be more beneficial for the City to share the cost of paving the roads with the <br />homeowners, which would then cut down the City's maintenance costs. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman replied that there has never been any maintenance on the dirt roads <br />so it seems as if the City is punishing the people for not having paved roads. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that some of the dirt roads would require major work to upgrade them. The <br />City could assess the homeowners for that work, but it would end up being an ongoing charge for <br />those residents. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the analysis that was done by staff is based on the <br />assumption that they are treating dirt roads the same as paved roads. He explained that the way <br />the City handles paved streets is that they provide routine maintenance for which the City covers <br />50 percent and the benefited parties pay the other 50 percent. Contrast that to dirt streets in <br />which the City 100 percent of the maintenance costs. That did not make sense to him. He stated <br />that the City does routine maintenance, such as filling a pothole on paved streets, as well as on <br />gravel streets. It doesn't make sense that they build something and expect it to last forever. Mr. <br />Hendriksen felt that if the policy for paved streets works today then it should be applied it to <br />gravel streets. An acceptable level of maintenance should be determined for dirt roads that <br />would be done on a regular basis and then that cost should be assessed to the property owners, <br />which would be consistent with the paved street policy. If those cost become too much for the <br />property owners along the dirt roads then they always have the option to petition to have the road <br />paved. He did not understand why dirt roads were not treated the same and why residents were so <br />reluctant to forward a petition to the Council to have the roads paved. Mr. Hendriksen did not <br />feel that the City should force anyone to have a paved road if they do not want it paved. <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski stated that it was suggested that a dirt street maintenance program <br />similar to that used for paved streets be considered. The existing practice of grading dirt street <br />periodically is not providing an acceptable level of service on these roads based on the frequent <br /> <br />Public Works Committee/May 21, 2002 <br /> Page 2 of 12 <br /> <br /> <br />