Lino Lakes Road Improvement Public Hearings Held
The Lino Lakes City Council held public hearings for the West Shadow Lake Drive and Shenandoah Area Improvement Projects at its meeting of July 9. Both projects, identified by the city's Pavement Management and Street Reconstruction Program as being in high need of reconstruction, are proposed to be funded by a combination of special assessments and general tax levies.
Each proposed tax levy triggers the requirement for city-wide voter approval under the city's charter. According to the project feasibility studies, watermain and sanitary sewer, however, would be paid for by bene ting property owners and by the city's special trunk area and unit fund in accordance with city policy. The studies were presented at neighborhood meetings on June 28. Both projects are slated for construction in 2009.
The $5,583,000 West Shadow Lake Drive Improvement Project, which includes Shadow Court and Sandpiper Lane, will construct city water and sewer, storm drainage improvements, curb and gutter and new road surfacing, and a bike trail. The trail was added in response to safety concerns expressed by the public, City Engineer Jim Studenski said.
Four residents, all of whom live on West Shadow Lake Drive, spoke at the public hearing. Mike Trehus objected to the project, stating that some residents on larger lots would be forced to sell their homes to pay their assessments and requesting that more detail be included in the plan before the public hearing. Trehus also objected to the increase in width proposed for the street, calling it "a step backward."
"Not only doesn't this proposal fit the neighborhood, "he said, "it doesn't fit with current environmental practices."
Charles Puskas was concerned about safety, especially as it relates to road users. "The statistics of narrow roads underline the problem," he said in support of the project, adding that some have more concern about trees than pedestrians and cyclists, and "that's just insane."
Twenty-two-year resident Jamie Stern was concerned about failing septic systems. Joe Meyer spoke in favor of "basic, fundamental city services, adding, "I hope you put this on the ballot and give us a chance."
The project will require acquisition of ponding easements and requires the installation of individual grinder pumps in conjunction with a low-pressure sewer forcemain. Studenski explained that a gravity sewer main is not possible, "because of the depth [of installation] needed." The fact that homes are already present along the roadway, under which the pipe would be installed, limits the room in which the contractor can work.
Council also held a pubBy lic hearing for the $2,157,000 Shenandoah Area Improvement Project, which will provide municipal water and storm drainage improvements, and replace 30-year-old curb and gutter and street surfacing. No trail is planned. Studenski said he believes the existing sanitary sewer is in "fairly good condition" but said he will consider televising the system to make sure.
Residents who live along Rice Court, Hokah Court, Hokah Drive, Totem Trail and Arrowhead Drive are included in the project, which was presented at a neighborhood meeting June 28. Studenski clarified the city water hookup policy, stating that residents who have adequate water supplies from private wells are not required to hook up to the system or pay hookup fees, but must pay their assessments.
Resident Bob Bayer spoke against the proposal, saying the cost/benefit ratio of added fluoride and fire hydrants [with the municipal system] "just doesn't seem worth it." Well water is free, he said, and the water table is "plenty high - the wells are not going to fail."
Studenski said when properties change hands, the quality of well water from shallow wells "gets to be a property-owner-to-purchaser issue." If municipal water doesn't go in now, he said, the city will not take a favorable view of ripping up the new road to install watermain later.
Other residents thought that drainage problems have been overstated. Studenski also said the council has not addressed the issue of assessment deferments. Some residents expressed concern over whether owners of large lots would be forced to subdivide their property to pay the assessments levied for each individual parcel. Some parcels, Studenski said, could divide into 2, 3 or 4 lots. Should there be a number of such subdivisions, Studenski said that the city's growth management limits of 147 new lots per year "would be a factor."
Residents have 60 days to file a petition against the improvements.
Mayor Bergeson recused himself from discussion and voting, as he lives on one of the streets in question.