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PUBLIC HEARING, .WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1956
The hearing xas declared open at 7:t~0 PM., all council members being present
as follows: William R. Utecht, Mayor; George J. Shavor, Trustee; David P. Cartwright,
Trustee; Harold C. Nilsen, Trustee; Clyde J. Stuart, Clerk. Also present -William
E. Olsen, Treasurer; Arndt J. Duvall and A.M. Steffes, representing the Village's
sanitary suer engineers; and Frank N. Graham and Frank Hammonds Village^Attorneys.
The audience included some 200 persons.
Mayor Utecht announced the purpose of the hearing and referred to the statute
which requires the holding of a public hearing before the council may proceed in
such matters as the proposed sanitary suer system improvement. He spoke on the
published notice of the hearing and regarding the brochure on the proposed improvement
which had been mailed to. residents prior to the hearing. He named the Village areas
now served by St Paul's serer system and the remaining portions of the Village not
having sewer service. Referring to xhen our present sanitary sewer engineers xere
engaged by the council in May 1955, he said that a preliminary survey xas subsequently
authorized and that in October 1955 the engineers reported that the construction of
a gravity system of sanitary sewers was feasible in Falcon Heights. The Mayor
told of developments leading to negotiations with the City of St Paul and the passage
of an ordinance by that City, granting permission to our Village to connect its
sewer system to St Paul's under certain conditions at Hemline and Hoyt and at
Snelling and Hoyt avenues. The Mayor said tonight's hearing xas being held to
determine xhether or not the council should accept the St Paul ordinance and proceed
xith the proposed improvement.
The Clerk read a letter under date of November 30, 1956, from the State Depart-
ment of Health, University Caatpus, Minneapolis, relative to the problem in Falcon
Heights of providing a central system of sewage collection or continuing xith the
septic tank-soil absorption system. An accompanying article on sewage disposal,
from the June I95b issue of Public Health Reports magazine, xas summarized.
Attorney Graham outlined legal procedure under the Local Improvement code
(Chapter lt29, M.S.A.) which must be followed if the council decides to go ahead
with the proposed improvement. He told haw the lax provides for financing the
improvement, how plans and specifications must be approved by the council, the
time needed for analyzing bids, letting o° contracts and indicated the work might
be completed by next summer if the council decides to proceed xith the pro3ect at
this time. He pointed out that subsequent steps would be the preparation of an
assessment roll and holding of a public hearing in this connection. He to]rl how
assessments may be paid off by the property owners. He also said the lax provides
for passage of ordinaices by the council relating to suer charges and collection,
for determining policies for connecting to the sewer and for licensing plumbers
rho would do the connection work.
Mr. A. M. Steffes, representing our sanitary sewer engineers, spoke before a
lighted roll map and pointed out the areas in the Village to be served by the
proposed sanitary suer system, also the points of connection to the St Paul suer
system. Proposed suer depths, he said, xere 18 ft. i[aximum, which is not considered
excessive, to minimum depths of 9 ft. Mr. Steffes completed his talk by presenting
figures on estimated costs of the proposed sanitary server system.
Questions At this point, the Mayor asked if anyone wished to be heard for
called for or against the proposed improvement.
Scott Johnston, said his home is on the corner of Hemline and Ioxa, that he
13l.~1 Iona now has serer connection to the City of St Paul, and asked
chat the charges xould be against his property xhen the proposed
sewer ia.run up Hemline.
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Geo. H. Nelson,
2100 Cleveland
H. J. Isaksen,
1582 Hollywood Ct.
Minnie Berquist
1861 Asbury
Wal ter A. Randt,
1507 California
said he represent®d a group zest of the school, who felt the
proposed sewer would be of no benefit to them. Mr. Nelson asked
that the proposed server not be extended to their area.
said his property xas a corner lot and asked if he xould be
assessed for Hollyxood Court and Snelling frontage.
aslaed if she xould be assessed on both the Asbury and Ruggles
sides of her property.
inquired if drains at corners would be connected to the proposed
sanitary sexer system.
John M. MacGregor, said the lots in his area are deep, that some septic tanla
1795 N. Fairview connections are in the rear of the homes, and that none of these
homes need the proposed sanitary surer service.
J.V.Lee, said his property consisted of about an acre, that taking into
18lt0 W. Larpenteur consideration the cost for the few houses in there, he xas opposed
to bringing the sewer into his area.
C.N.Otis, said he didn't need sanitary sexer at this time, but did not rant
1757 Fairview to appear as blocking progress for areas of the Village needing
it. He asked as to possible increase in valuations after the
seller is installed.
Geo. J. Carney, asked three questions (1) How to arrange for the minimum connection
1731 N. Pascal charge of 462.50 per running foot; (2) if it rill be compulsory to
fill in cesspools xhen not in use; (3) if a home is sold fi w .years
hence, xould the owner be required to pay up assessment. He added
that he strongly favored the proposed improvement.
Harry Bruncke asked if the first year's assessment figures used in the brochure
1710 N. Albert were not too high, and was informed by the Village attorney that
the interest was figured from the date of issue of the bonds.
Mr. Bruncke asked to be recorded in favor of the proposed improvement.
J.E. Malloy, presented a petition signed by himself and seven other property
1905 N. Snelling owners in the area on the west side of Snelling Avenue from Garden
to Roselaam, opposing the proposed sanitary sewer installation in
this area.
Louis Gilbert, said he has a new home near University ]and and feels the proposed
1911 N. Snelling sanitary aewer would do him no good.
John Strait, said the cost would be prohibitive for owners on Fairview with
17b3 A~. Fairview deep lots and that he has a good septic tank system.
R.L. Rudd, said his property is on Autumn street where there ar® all near
1950 N. Prior homes xith 200 ft. lots. .Said he would petition with others in
this area to leave them out.
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Chester A. Eklund, said he is the owner of a lot on Holton betxeen Garden and-
St Paul, Minn. Ruggles, purchased 6 or 7 years ago, that he pays taxes on the
property but that the Village xill not permit him to build on
the lot t~diich is in a drainage area. He asked if the Village
nor. proposes to malaa an assessment against this property.
R.I. Chalmers said he felt there xas not much opposition to the proposed
18$!t N. Pascal improvement in his area, that there might be on Fairviex and
in certain other areas rest of Snelling. Asked how it xould
af'f'ect costs if such areas are left out. Mr. Chalmers said
that the #15,000 home figure used under "Property Owner's Cost"
in the brochure should be higher fo r.Falcon Heights homes.
Ray Garcia, said a number of people have bought new homes in his area and
1906 Prior there is no problem of soil pollution. He asked if a petition
xere signed by these residents if it xould receive consideration
by the council.
W. C. Grove, 1502 ~. California; Jerry Roch, 1791 Tatum; Ralph Munson, 1803 Arona,
Edward Sandell, 1795 Arona; Mrs. Fred Sorenson, 1783 N. Holton
and Dwight Reichox, 11197 Iowa, all spoke in favor of the
proposed sanitary serer.
G.F. Schmitt said he xas in favor of a sanitary sewer system but expressed
1725 Asbury concern regarding costs.
Ralph Keyes, said he xas a newcomer, having lived in the Village l1t months,
1725 Arona that he heard about the sewer problem, and that he thinks the
council has done a pretty good Sob of passing out information
and in furnishing residents xith the brochure they have.
Mr. Keyes asked to be recorded xith those favoring the pro3ect.
Vote taken No one else xishing to be heard, the Mayor called for a show
of hands, first from those residing east of Snelling, and aecond,~
from those zest of Snelling Avenue, to indicate how many residents
in the audience favored the proposed sanitary seower improvement
and how manor xere opposed. The vote xas recorded as strongly
' favoring the proposal, only one or txo hands being raised in
opposition.
Hearing closed. The Mayor declared the hearing closed at 9:50 P.M.
1 er
Approvedr
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Mayor