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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 17, 1989 PAGE 3 Municipal Board, new language was added in the detachment/annexation laws which provided another avenue of approach for propertyowners to seek detachment/annexation to other municipalities. Laidig has talked to the Municipal Board and they will provide an explanation on whether it was specific decisions or problems that were occurring in 1985 that lead them to pass the legislation and make this change. Laidig contacted Bill Lento from Little Canada, who was one of the two authors of the Bill, and he did not have strong feelings about legislation introduced to consider repealment. Councilman Williams stated he does not like to see our city chewed off., bit by bit by our neighbors, and he would like to see legislation to support repeal. Councilman Moe responded that Stalin and Hitler both had the same idea; pass laws so people cannot use any of their rights and let the State make all the decisions for all the propertyowners. Moe added he would fight the repeal legislation and any Senator who backs it now and in the future. Councilman Hunt felt that a city does have certain rights and landowners have certain rights, and it was really sad when those two groups cannot get together and work out a compromise and still preserve things for both people. By allowing certain individuals to take major actions, such as this, that could impact the long-term stability of the City is dangerous. This current council will be sympathetic to people and work with them, but at the same time they don't want to have be threaten (with a petition for detachment/annexation) every time a landowner doesn't get to do exactly what they want. McPherson agreed with Councilman Hunt that it is a shame that problems within the City cannot be solved by that City and that the State had to get involved. She added that they have to look at where the problem was, what was Woodbury offering that Lake Elmo cannot offer and try to mediate in order to bring the people together to resolve the problem and bring on a compromise rather than change legislation. If the law is wrong, this will be changed, but it is too bad that Lake Elmo cannot work out the problem. She will take input from the Council, and go back to the legislature and go through House research for the information requested. Councilman Williams explained there are new faces on the Council with new ideas and new attitudes, and they are interested in working with the landowners and are taking time at this meeting to discuss how we can work together with the Section 32 landowners. Williams complimented Section 32 propertyowners, Dreher and Kirvida, for working with the City and not just signing off to Oakdale. Councilman Graves did not want to see the lands detached and was opposed to the detachment of the previous parcel of Section 32 looking at it from a community perspective. On the other hand, he was sympathetic to the frustration the people have expressed. From a community standing, he felt the property was valuable to the future well-being and, if possible, tax base expansion for the community. It