09/21/1987 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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020 COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 21, 1987 Harvey Cheesebrough, 7655 - 4th Avenue - Mr. Cheesebrough said the Council originally has indicated that no property south of Thomas Street would be assessed. Since then the Council has taken property from him for easement purposes and is now proposing to assess him approximately the same amount as was paid him for the easement. He felt that he and Molin Concrete Products would be paying about 25% of the cost of the entire improvement. In addition he noted that he felt the assessment was at the wrong end of the project. He felt that those further to the north should pay more since they would be receiving more benefit than his property. Mayor Benson told Mr. Cheesebrough that he was not being assessed the full amount and he was receiving an area wide benefit. Mr. Stahlberg explained to Mr. Cheesebrough that he was being assessed on a front foot basis as was everyone else along 4th Avenue. At the time the improvement was ordered the Council did not have an assessment policy and this is why there has been some confusion as to who would or would not be assessed. Also this is the first state aid improvement project completed by this City. Mayor Benson noted that at the beginning he felt that the Council said there would be no assessment for the improvement of 4th Avenue only. There would be an assessment for the improvement of Ditch No. 22. Mr. Cheesebrough said he felt sorry for those who did have a drainage problem but felt he was bearing an unnecessary large portion of the costs. Neil Banta, 7829 Nottingham Lane - Mr. Banta said he remembered a meeting about a year ago when the Council discussed an escrow account of the developer of Sherwood Green which was to be applied to this improvement. He wondered what happened to this account. Mr. Banta also noted that the area north of Main Street certainly benefits from the improvement of Ditch No. 22 because water is now able to get out of the area faster. Mr. Stahlberg told Mr. Banta that the property owners north of Main Street will be paying an assessment in the future when the ditches north of Main Street are cleaned and improved. These property owners are outside of the district and cannot legally be assessed. Mr. Banta felt that they get direct benefit and felt they should have been included in the assessment. Mayor Benson said they were outside of the scope of the project and if the Council were to consider assessing the property north of Main Street they would have to address the question of how PAGE 2