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02-07-07 Special Mtg. February 7, 2007 A special meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Dennis Seefeldt called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. The following were present: Councilmembers Pete Crum, Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Donnette Yehle, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt. Staff: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund, City Engineer Tom Peterson. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the engineer’s Environmental Study with property thth owners of 197 and 205 Streets and to make a decision on whether to include either one or both of the streets in the 2007 paving project. thth City Engineer Tom Peterson summarized the Environmental Study Report of 205 and 197 Street and reviewed the proposed improvements. The roads would be designed to direct run-off away th from the adjacent trout stream along 205 Street and also to treat the run-off before reaching the th river. On 197, the grade would be lowered and the road widened to address safety concerns and to improve drainage. Councilmember Yehle asked if pond easements had been secured from property owners. Peterson had not yet contacted the Clapp family due to an incorrect phone number. Councilmember Harnetty felt that the improvements come at an extraordinary cost both financially and non-financially. Is it conceivable to surface only the current conditions and not expand the width of the road? Peterson stated: “Possibly, but this would not meet the minimum road standards. The engineers were directed to keep two-foot shoulders”. Councilmember Harnetty: “Could a deviation be made from the standard?” Peterson explained that yes, it may be a possibility, but this raises the elevation. Although the road can still be canted to the north for improved drainage, a ditch is necessary on the north side of the road, trees would be impacted, and the watershed requires treatment of run-off when improvements are made. Ponds are the best method for treatment of run-off. Councilmember Crum questioned the current cost of maintaining this road. Maintenance costs are low. He pointed out that at a total cost of close to $400,000 for improvements, this could go a long way towards maintenance of these roads for many years. Councilmember Peterson thought it a shame to alter these roads, as they greatly contribute to the area’s history. The residents for many years prior had done the maintenance. Councilmember Yehle pointed out that the long-term plan is to eventually pave all roads; however, budgeting, prioritizing, consideration of rural character, tree removal, viewscapes and pond easements all need to be considered in the overall picture, perhaps making the inclusion of the two roads not a logical fit into this project. Councilmember Harnetty felt that the current condition is satisfactory and the roads may not need paving. February 7, 2007 Scandia City Council Special Meeting Page 2 Mayor Seefeldt discussed the concerns of easement costs, tree removal, unknown cost/benefits, no input from the Park and Recreation Committee on the Log House Landing, and the possibility of making no improvements greater than a fourteen-foot width. Seefeldt felt that there were too many questions regarding the two roads to move ahead with them as part of the 2007 paving project, and suggested that there could be a possibility to partner with the Car-Mar Watershed, DNR, or National Park Service to help with the funding of improvements. Pierce Lewis, Quinnell property owner, stated that if nothing were done, run-off of gravel into the trout stream would continue. Mayor Seefeldt replied that this is where a joint project with the watershed could eliminate this. Richard Hudson, 20491 Ostrum Avenue, asked about an environmental impact report on Ostrum Avenue, which is currently on the list of roads for this project. Mr. Hudson suggested that the council give additional thought to the paving of this dead-end road. th Dennis Johnson, 197 Street property owner, asked if the gravel road can be tilted to reduce run- off. Mayor Seefeldt replied that yes, the grader operator could make adjustments for this. th Lee Eginton, 197 Street property owner, prefers the rural character as it is now. Also, is the paving th of 197 inevitable? If the road comes up for paving in the future at a higher cost to residents, maybe it should be included at this time. If paving is not inevitable, then he would prefer to keep it off the paving project. Mayor Seefeldt didn’t know this as a definite, as it could be studied with a future project. Mr. Eginton stated that the road had been covered with Dresser trap rock many years ago. This surface did not gulley and turn to clay as the current surface material is doing. Is it possible to go back to this trap rock? Peterson stated that trap rock is more expensive, but lime rock could be an option. Installing new and better drain tile would also help with drainage. Terry Bennett, 19713 Quinnell, asked how shoulders are maintained. Mayor Seefeldt explained that this is done with a shouldering blade on the truck. th Craig Christenson, 20661 Quint Avenue, brought up the past history of 205 Street. After the 1998 paving project, the road began to be maintained by the grader and he felt that the run-off problem worsened. The natural crown of the road degraded and water began to flow off both sides of the road. The minimal maintenance of the road seemed to work for many years before this. th Dolores Peterson made a motion to delete part of 205 Street from the 2007 Road Project, but th include 205 Street from Quinnell to approximately two-feet from Kathleen Wallace’s th driveway, and to vacate 205 Street that goes over the railroad track to the bottom that meets Quint Avenue. The city should not upgrade the hill that goes to Log House Landing as that is very scenic and believes that the hill should be preserved as that is the history of the city, the th beginning of our community. To include 197 Street in the 2007 Road Project from Highway th 95 to the top of the hill of 197 Street and delete the hill from the 2007 project as the hill February 7, 2007 Scandia City Council Special Meeting Page 3 should be preserved as that is the history of the city. Neither of these two streets are heavily used and the cost for these two hills to be reconstructed are cost prohibitive and the city would be destroying the history of our community. Donnette Yehle seconded the motion for discussion. Attorney Hebert advised that vacating a road requires a public hearing. This is not on the agenda for this meeting therefore no discussion should begin. An alternative would be to close the road. The council discussed that the form of the motion should be to delete the specific roads and to be very clear on the reasons behind this decision. Councilmember Peterson withdrew the motion. Councilmember Yehle withdrew the second on this motion. Dolores Peterson made a motion to adopt Resolution 02-07-07-01 Ordering Improvement and th Preparation of Plans with the amendment to eliminate Quint Avenue South and 205 Street from Quinnell to east end. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. Michael Harnetty made a motion to proceed with an engineering and environmental impact th study on Quint Avenue South and 205 Street from Quinnell to east end as a future project or as a separate project in partnership with the watershed or alternative agency. Dennis Seefeldt seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. th Kathleen Wallace, 16797 205 Street, thanked the council for their thoughtfulness in considering the historic value of these roads and expressed her appreciation of their high level of involvement. th Lee Eginton questioned the assessment to property owners down the hill of 197 Street. Mayor Seefeldt explained that it might be that they receive a partial assessment, but this would be decided at the Assessment Hearing later in 2007. Donnette Yehle made a motion to adjourn. Dolores Peterson seconded the motion and meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund City of Scandia Deputy Clerk