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PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL <br /> PUBLIC HEARING <br /> CITY OF RAMSEY <br /> ANOKA COUNTY <br /> STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />A public hearing was conducted on Thursday, May 29, 1986 at the Ramsey <br />Elementary School, 15000 Nowthen Blvd. N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota regarding the <br />proposed establishment of the entire community into two (2) storm sewer taxing <br />districts for the purpose of financing storm sewer improvements. <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Mayor Gary Heitman <br />Councilmember Arnie Cox <br />Councilmember Jean Schlueter <br />Councilmember A1 Sorteberg <br />Councilmember Gary Reimann <br /> <br />Also Present: <br /> <br />City Administrator David Hartley <br />City Attorney William Goodrich <br />City Engineer Peter Raatikka <br /> <br />C, ALL TO QR~)ER <br /> <br />City Administrator Hartley called the public hearing to order at 7:33 p.m. and <br />led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. <br /> <br />PUBLIQ HEARING BUSINESS <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley - Stated that tonight's hearing is to discuss a plan to establish <br />the community into two districts for the purpose of financing storm sewer <br />improvements. The boundaries of those districts are based on topographical <br />characteristics of areas draining to the Rum River and areas draining to the <br />Mississippi River. Minnesota Statute 444 enables local governments to <br />establish drainage districts for the purpose of financing the cost of storm <br />drainage improvements, maintenance of systems, etc. The community can also <br />borrow money if these districts are established and repay the loan for the sale <br />of the bonds with taxes collected from these districts. Sometimes, special <br />assessments are used that are levied on properties based on square footage or <br />area a property might have. Taxes are based upon the value of the land. Storm <br />drainage districts would be used to pay for storm drainage improvements by <br />taxes based on the value of the property. The cost of the improvements would <br />be taxed across all properties in each district. There are several communities <br />in Minnesota that use this method to pay for storm sewer. Some communities pay <br />for storm sewer improvements with an ad valorem tax that is similar to taxing <br />districts but that methods does not have the ability to borrow the money to <br />perform the improvements. Other communities use the method of special <br />assessments. The problem with special assessments is that storm sewer <br />improvements often affect people that live other than where the actual <br />improvement is being constructed. Another problem is that with special <br />assessments you tend to have smaller projects benefitting smaller, more <br />confined areas. Some of the disadvantages of drainage districts is that there <br />may be somewhere, someone, that does not currently have any need or perceive <br />any need for storm drainage improvements and feels that they should not have to <br /> <br />Page 1 of 7' <br /> <br /> <br />