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TRANSPORTATION Ramsey currently owns and maintains 136.76 miles of paved roadways after the addition of 1.38 miles of new street construction in 2000. We also maintain 6.4 miles of dirt and gravel roadways and Anoka County and the State control another 39.51 miles of paved arterial highway corridors. A major effort over the past few years has been toward the ongoing maintenance of these roadways. Annually, the City completes sealcoating or overlays on approximately 15 miles of existing City streets. In 1993, the Council created the Public Improvement Revolving Fund (PIR) to provide the dollars necessary to pay for half of the cost of this maintenance program. Without the PIR Fund, either the property owner would pay for all of the necessary costs, or a tax increase would be required for the City portion. The PIR is self - supporting through its interest earnings. A major project undertaken by the City in 2000 was the reconstruction of State Highway 47 from 153rd Avenue and 153rd Avenue. This was a $6 million dollar project that was funded with City, County, State and Federal assistance. Landscaping and construction of a sound wall will complete this project in Spring, 2001. UTILITIES Major improvements were also made to the City's utility system in 2000. A total of $1,254,102 worth of water and sewer lines were installed in new subdivisions or to interconnect (loop) lines within the urban section of the community. To alleviate persistent drainage problems throughout the City, a storm water utility fund was created in 2000. This project funded the installation of storm sewer lines along 164th Lane, 142nd Avenue in Flintwood Hills and on Juniper Ridge Drive. Additionally in 2000, the City drilled its fifth well and initiated construction on a second water tower. Both of these facilities will be operational in 2001. PARKS Ramsey is fortunate in being the home to 522 acres of State and County park space, in addition to over 565 acres of City owned parks and trails. Included in the City inventory is almost nine miles of trails and over 200 acres of active park spaces. The balance of the system is either yet to be developed or dedicated as nature preserves. The City contributes an ever - increasing amount of maintenance for the upkeep of the developed park system. To keep pace with the increasing number of park and trail users, the City uses a threefold approach. The first approach is committing adequate maintenance hours to the existing system. High school and college students provide a substantial number of hours during the summer and volunteers provide their services year - round. The second approach is to meet service expectations to improve existing parks. The City has 35 parks. Development of these parks in 2000, ranged from new play equipment in Central Park to a 90 -foot arched bridge over the wetland in Cottonwood Park. The third and final approach, is the development of new parks and trails. In 2000, a park plan was developed for the newly acquired Elmcrest Park. A $100,000 grant was received from the State of Minnesota to help with the implementation of Phase I. viii