Minutes - Council - 01/24/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Assistant Public Works Director Olson indicated the last time a project was counter-petitioned was on 157th by Variolite Street. Those residents were required to come back with a petition to request future maintenance on that roadway, and at that point it was 100% assessment. Councilmember Olson questioned if streets that are petitioned to be removed from the Street Maintenance Program are permanently removed. Assistant Public Works Director Olson replied it would be permanent until the residents petition to have the street added back to the program, at which time they are assessed 100%o. Councilmember Elvig commented while there are some people that are against this program, there are residents living on private roads that are trying to solicit the City to change their road to a public road because they want the maintenance program so badly. Jim Thelen, resident on Eaton Street, stated his taxes have tripled in the past ten years, and in the last three years have gone up 16 to 17%. He hears the City Council talking about staff and a new City Center, but the primary job of government is to build roads. He questioned why he is paying anything for this maintenance. He stated it is fun for the Council to spend money on their pet projects, but their job is Police, Fire, and building roads. He stated when government does what you would go to jail for it is time for a revolution. Mayor Gamec replied this policy was set up years ago. All of the taxpayers pay for part of the road, and the property owners pay for the rest. Mr. Thelen questioned why none of the 25 Ramsey residents he talked to had a chance to vote against the City Center. Mayor Gamec replied the City Council made the decision regarding the City Center, because it is best for the City as a whole. The current City Hall was very inefficient to operate, and the most effective solution was to build a new City Hall. Services cannot be offered to the citizens with the existing City Hall. Mr. Thelen stated his family income is down 67% in the last three years, and he has a neighbor who lost his house. The City Council arbitrarily decided to build the City Hall because of what sounds best to them arbitrarily. Mayor Gamec stated over 1,700 people have moved into Ramsey in the past three years. People can get a better house for their money in Ramsey than in a city like Maple Grove. Mr. Thelen stated the Council needs to think about how they are affecting people's lives; they are taxing the residents to death and they are tired of it. Mr. Clark stated he saw a lot of errors made with the base of the roads when they were built in Ramsey. He hopes when these overlays are done the City pays more attention to how much Class 5 is put down and how good the material is that is being used on the roads. City Council / January 24, 2006 Page 8 of 22