08-23-2000 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Little Canada August 16, 2000 City Council Members Dear City Council Members: Re: 421 Viking Drive - Drainage Ditch I am seeking the City's help with an extremely dangerous situation. I am currently building a home on 421 Viking Drive in Little Canada. I am very concerned about the storm drainage ditch located in the front of the property and on subsequent properties down the street. The drainage ditches are very deep (approx. 8 - 10' deep), covered with trees and brush and are an extreme safety hazard. I am asking for the City to extend to me the same offer they extended to other homeowners prior to my purchasing the property. There is some confusion as to whether the property belongs to myself or the City. I have had Metro Land Surveying survey the property and the lot stakes clearly show that the drainage ditch is on City property (I can provide pictures if necessary). When I contacted the City, the response was "we offered to fill the ditches in front of those properties before but no one took the offer, if you wish to 611 it, you will need to pay an engineering firm to do a topographic survey, analyze the drainage area, and calculate the pipe requirements. Then the information has to be forwarded to H.R. Greene for review at a cost to me of $2000 - $3000. I believe this is the City's responsibility for the following reasons: 1. DANGER: A short while back a child was killed when drowned in a drainage ditch. A child could easily drown without being seen in these ditches. This simply is a huge safety hazard, one I'tn sure the City would like taken care of before a tragedy occurs; 2. THE OFFER WAS MADE: An offer was made to the homeowners that the City take care of this. I did not own the property at the time and should have the same offer; 3. CITY PROPERTY: Survey shows this is,City property; 4. COST: It would be less expensive for the City to do the work according to their requirements; and 5. LITTLE CANADA MISSION STATEMENT: The City;s Mission Statement states, among other things, "We are committed to open commbnications, superior customer service, continuous improvement and accountability to the public." I'rn asking that this be the case in this situation. There will be little children living in this home and there currently are little ones down the road. At 417 there is an 11 month old child. As I was on the lot the other day, she was crawling in her front yard. If anything should happen to her, who takes responsibility. I believe the City has to. After talking to the next door neighbor, they stated they were given insufficient time to clean up the ditch when the offer was made. Now, as a family with young children, they do not have the $2000 - $3000 to spend. I am imploring the City Council to consider helping all homeowners along that block of Viking Drive, to make it a safe place to live. A child died in this type of situation - how will we feel if this happens in our community? ou for considering this request. athleen M. Olson Owner - 421 Viking Drive. Little Canada, MN Page 81