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<br />. <br /> <br />identified -- West and South Central. What is being proposed is to establish <br />these districts with the hearing tonight. Why a taxing district versus some <br />other means of paying for storm sewer improvements? Special assessments have <br />been used in other communities to finance storm sewer improvements. Special <br />assessments are normally used as an area charge and tend to be more localized. <br />One of the principles of storm sewer drainage systems is that outlets placed <br />throughout the area benefit the entire area. Using ad valorem as a financing <br />method would mean that the cost of the improvement would be spread throughout <br />the entire community. This method is not quite fair and the procedure is <br />costly and cumbersome. The improvements can be initiated by Councilor a <br />petition from the citizens. Council is responsible for providing basic public <br />services and storm drainage is one of them. If Council feels the improvement <br />is worth consideringt they will do so and a public hearing process is required <br />no matter which of the three funding choices are to be utilized. It is Staff's <br />and the governing body's belief that the taxing district is the most equitable <br />and practical approach to deal with storm drainage systems. Can taxing <br />districts be established to provide sanitary sewer and water? No; the laws <br />that make it possible to establish storm sewer districts do not allow for <br />establishing sewer and water districts. One of the side advantages to a taxing <br />district is that payment of improvements through taxes is tax deductible <br />provided you itemize deductions. With special assessmentst only the interest <br />is deductible. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Commissioner Ippel inquired if the water problems are a result of excess <br />runofft which is a temporary situation or rising groundwater tables. If it is <br />rising groundwatert is there a way to provide enough drainage to correct the <br />problem and if we dOt are we incurring any liability by raising the river water <br />level and causing flooding. <br /> <br />Mr. Raatikka replied that the reason for the rising groundwater table is the <br />increase in surface water soaking into the ground. The drainage system would <br />take down the water level in ponding areas about 2 feet. <br /> <br />Commissioner Vevea inquired as to how the pipe size that is needed is <br />calculated. <br /> <br />Mr. Raatikka replied that areas without ponding require oversized piping. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that as he understands itt the only way to design a system <br />is to deal surface water and not necessarily groundwater problems; not so <br />certain there are groundwater percu1ation problems. Dealing with surface water <br />levels will relieve ponding areas. Draining groundwater would be dealing in <br />questionable practices with DNR. Tonight's hearing is just to address the <br />establishment of taxing districts; when a project is defined to solve drainage <br />problemst another hearing will be conducted regarding the project itself. <br /> <br />Mr. Raatikka stated that as far as incurring any liability in raising the river <br />leve1t the City would be required to obtain permits from DNR to drain to the <br />river; obtaining such a permit should exempt City from liability. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that because of Ramsey's Comprehensive Plant Metro Council <br />is anticipating these kinds of improvements and they have not expressed any <br />concern for the Rum or Mississippi Rivers. Noted that districts can be <br />April 15, 1986 <br /> <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />