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Chairperson Steffen stated that if City Council wanted to adopt an ordinance that said that a system <br />in this situation could not be repaired, would you be okay with that. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen replied that it should be in a City ordinance or resolution. He added that the City <br />did allow a vacant lot to vote on 151st. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen pointed out the second section - this implies that whatever is in that project is <br />deferred, whether it's a road, or whatever, as long as the sewer is functional, than all is deferred. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen explained that the intent was that if a road had to be ripped up for sewer pipes, he <br />felt it was fair to have this deferred. If sewer goes in in combination with other improvements, <br />there may be a tendency to separate the ones related to sewer and water. The City of Andover does <br />these projects similar to that. Street lights would be a different project. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen understood Mr. Hendriksen to mean that the people who petition for a project <br />should pay for all of it and those who did not, do not have to pay but will reap the same benefits. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen stated that people who do not connect to sewer do not receive a benefit. He added <br />that what happened on 151st is abusive. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen found the word "abusive" offensive. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen stated that two residents built homes on 151st; one purchased two lots. These two <br />property owners wanted to subdivide their property. He stated he would call them developers for <br />profit. These two individuals were allowed to force neighbors into something they didn't want. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen stated that by referring to a specific case, he can turn that into exactly the same <br />issue for people who needed a sewer system - maybe they really needed it and they are denied it by <br />the other three lots. He asked about a balancing act - the majority rule. He stated that this decision <br />can appropriately go back to City Council for resolution. That's a balance. It has nothing to do <br />with 151st. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen stated he allowed the process to run its course. He did not feel it was fair. He <br />talked to a number of individuals - he got 500 signatures. What will happen in terms of the voters <br />is unknown. He hoped they would feel this is fair. For the people who absolutely require sewer <br />and water, this is only one of several ways that sewer and water can get to them. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen questioned without an assessment. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen replied that they can be negotiated The City negotiates with developers. For <br />those who do not want sewer and water, they are not forced to subsidize for the wants and needs <br />of other people. There was a number of meetings held before the sewer entered the City of <br />Ramsey. He stated that he had received assurance that no one would be forced to hook up to <br />sewer and water. He has not found where that's written down but he received that assurance at a <br />public hearing. <br /> <br />Commissioner Swokowski comrnented on the people wanting it later and then being assessed. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen stated that he chose his words carefully. He read 8.6.3 which would provide for <br />an assessment at a consistent cost with that of the first assessments for the project. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued pertaining to providing the City some latitude to make adjustments as the cost at <br />a later date will probably be more expensive than when the first part of the project is assessed. <br /> <br />Charter Commission/April 18, 1996 <br /> Page 4 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />