1-07-99 tb specialJanuary 7, 1999
On the above date New Scandia Town Board held a Special Meeting
to discuss and review the questions and concerns the residents
have in the Bliss/Holiday Beach Addition about the assessment
costs for the bituminous surfacing for the 1999 Road Improvement
Project.
The clerk read the Notice of the Special Meeting which also
contained that the Town Board may also consider the Resolution
Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans For The 1999
Road Improvement Project.
The following Board Members were present: Chairman, Dennis
Seefeldt, Vice Chairman, Paul Rasmussen, Kevin Nickelson, Robert
Jensen and Bruce McConoughey. The following were representing
the Bliss/Holiday Beach Addition: Jeff Dahlberg, James Conlan
and J. Lee Swenson.
The representatives for the area had the following concerns:
Tax fairness, TIF monies and assessment formula.
A history of the road projects was presented by James Conlan and
he stated that in 1989 the assessment was on road frontage and
not by buildable lots. Mr. Conlan was corrected as the township
has never assessed by the road frontage.
Mr. Swenson stated he has a problem with the formula and if the
township would put all the collectors together using the 25o the
assessment for collectors would be $863.00 and using the
residential roads at 75% the assessment for residential roads
would be $1221.00. He stated this would bring down the cost of
residential roads and this would be a more fair assessment as the
residents on collector roads pay a much lower assessment with the
township policy. A two thirds and one third assessment was also
addressed.
Mr. Nickelson stated he felt every resident benefits from the
bituminous surfacing and that the collector roads receive so much
more traffic then the residential roads. This has been the
township policy for bituminous surfacing and he directed the
question to the township attorney if we could consider changing
the policy or add more roads to maybe help reduce the costs of
the residential roads. Mr. Hebert informed the Town Board that
this is not feasible as the township would have to redo the whole
project with reports, resolutions and public hearing and this
process would slow down the new project, so therefore the bidding
for the project would be late in the year. If the township bids
the project late in the year the bids would be definitely higher.
page 2
Mr. Dahlberg asked if the Washington County Parks could be
assessed on 185th Street, Department of Natural Resources and
New Scandia Township. Mr. Hebert felt the parks could be
assessed, but had some concerns about the lake accesses.
The representatives expressed their desire to continue with the
project and they wanted the bituminous surfacing, but how is it
going to be fair and fair to the residents in the future.
Mr. Seefeldt expressed his opinion that this assessment policy
worked in the past and the board should follow the policy.
Kevin Nickelson made a motion to use the existing policy and the
way it is applied. To review the Washington County Park land,
Department of Natural Resources land and New Scandia Township
land to whether or not these parcels maybe assessed. Direct, Tom
Peterson, Township Engineer to prepare a Long Range Plan for
future projects. Robert Jensen seconded the motion and motion
adopted unanimously.
Resolution Ordering Improvement And Preparation Of Plans
For The 1999 Road Project
Robert Jensen made a motion to approve and sign the Resolution
Ordering Improvement And Preparation Of Plans For The 1999
Road Project. Paul Rasmussen seconded the motion and motion
adopted unanimously.
Kevin Nickelson made a motion to adjourn. Bruce McConoughey
seconded the motion, meeting adjourned.
Dolores Pete L
New Scandia ip Clerk