01-10-2022 Improvement Hearing Minutes (Ryan Drive)

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING (IMPROVEMENT HEARING - RYAN DRIVE) JANUARY 10, 2022 Roger Stanke, 209 Ryan Drive, stated that he has no objections to the storm sewer at all because it has to be replaced, but he feels the street can last five or six more years because it is in very good condition. He noted that the majority of the property owners are still paying on a previous assessment and it would be a hardship to add another one now. He stated he is not opposed to doing the street, but just not now. He noted that the property owners cannot continue passing these costs on to their renters. John Krebsbach, 3173 Spruce Street, owner of St. Croix Incentives, stated that he agrees with Roger on the timing of the street and it could wait a few years. He stated he was not opposed to this project, just the timing of it because no one's business is doing as well as they were a few years ago. He is supportive of just doing a mill and overlay. Lee Rossow, owns five properties in the Ryan Industrial Park, and stated he will have the responsibility of close to one-third of the assessment amounts. He stated that the storm sewer is being crushed in from the sides, not the top like it would normally be, and alleges that is caused by the Fra-Dor gravel operation and the weight of his operation on top of the ground. He asked if the City would be willing to use the money the city receives from Fra-Dor to help the industrial park owners ease their assessment amounts since they have to tolerate the gravel operation. He would also like to get some more use out of Ryan Drive before it is replaced. Keis asked the City Administrator about the money that Fra-Dor pays the city. The City Administrator explained the money paid by Fra-Dor goes in to the General Fund, and is to replace the loss of property taxes because the gravel operation on a large amount of land causes the land value to be lower than would normally be found in an industrial park. Keis noted that he understands that the pandemic has caused problems for some businesses, but the City has continued to do road construction projects. Roger Stanke, asked if a petition with 100% of property owner signatures, would stop the project this year. Keis stated the city does not want to start stopping other street projects.every time owners say they do not want it done. Fischer explained that the concerns he has heard is about the timing of the project. He stated while this section of Ryan Drive may be done a _few years early in the cycle, the intent is to finish up the two sections of Ryan Drive now in order to have the whole street on the same improvement cycle rather than the sections being on different timelines. He noted that this comes at a cost today, but going to a mill and overlay now instead of a full reconstruction is reducing the costs significantly. Mr. Stanke asked if the assessments could be delayed. Torkelson asked what the financial implication to the city would be if this project is done this year, but defer the assessments for a certain amount of time. The City Administrator explained staff has discussed doing this, and no loans would be needed, but a small interest rate would be added for carrying costs. He noted that if any of the properties were sold during the deferred time, the assessment would need to be paid. Q