04/24/1989 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 037 COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 24, 1989 for any improvements. Mr. Hawkins admitted that this may sound too good to be true, but that is the they way its proposed. Mayor Benson explainedthat the way it is now, if 51% of the property owners in an area petition for utility improvements, you will hookup and pay whether you like it or not. The change that the Council is proposing would allow you the option of not hooking up, and not be assessed. Mr. Lyle Bye of 774 Vicki Lane asked what would happen if he petitioned out, and then changed his mind and asked to be included. It was explained that if you change your mind early on, you would pay a connection charge and the original assessment. If you change your mind 5 years down the road, you would pay the same with the addition of an inflation factor. Mr. John Vernon of 7782 Lake Drive questioned the Metropolitan Council's policy of allocating hookups (MUSA Boundary). Mr. Stahlberg explained how the Metro Council evaluates how many additional hookups a city is allowed. He said that in a large part, it is defined as Pig's Eye ability to process the waste. It was also noted that the City is presently meeting with residents who have no desire for utilities and allowing them to petition out of the MUSA boundary if possible. Mr. Greg Miller of 7839 Country Lane asked the Council, what the process would be if his well goes dry during de- watering. Mr. Stahlberg explained that the contractor signs a contract with the City, and is required to supply water to a property. The property owner would not be required to hook up to utilities. Mr. Maurice Channel of 77th Street stated that he believed this would only affect shallow wells. He went on to state that he appreciated the Council's willingness to listen to the people, and was please with both their performance, and that of the audience. Mrs. Judy Marvin of 6921 Sunrise stated that she was of the understanding that if utilities were in front of their property, and they had not hooked up, and they were selling their house, those hookups fees would have to be paid off. Mayor Benson said that may be the case, but mentioned that a conventional loan, or Contract for Deed would be able to get around that. He added the purpose of this proposed change is to protect current residents. The city desperately needs basic economic services and this is one way of facilitating that. This City Council has worked very hard to keep your taxes low, if not to actually lower them. The school districts, county and state organizations have not been quite so cooperative.