Minutes - 1997/02/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 9 February 24, 1997 Mounds View City Council APP~~~JED Joanne (inaudible), 8493 Spring Lake Road, stated she is against the bridge because she does not feel the location is appropriate. She feels it would be better to build it on County Road I. She also feels right now the money would be better spent on making improvements to the roads in Mounds View. Bruce Brasaemle, 5127 Long Lake Road, stated he is in support of the bridge. He feels the council needs to respect the citizen input of Focus 2000 and move forward. With the projected increase in traffic volume on Highway 10, he feels there will be more potential for mishaps at the intersection. He has seen many cars go through red lights there. He would like to see the bridge as an opportunity for the future residents. Susan Do, 2274 Oakwood Drive, thinks kids would use the bridge to get the library, as well as many adults and families. The bridge would like many kids to the proposed community center. The city needs to move forward. The life of even one child is worth much more than the cost that the city will incur. Julie Olson, 2b63 Lake Court Circle, stated many of her neighbors are concerned about the effects of having a bridge ramp coming right out into their back yards. Marry residents of the townhome complex have experienced damage and vandalism of their properties by kids and there is concerns that potential hangouts could occur near the bridge and increase the occurrences. Bruce Howard, President of the Ramsey County Library Board, stated he is present, on behalf of the Library Board, to speak in favor of the bridge. They approved an easement with the city for the construction of the bridge and did so because they felt the bridge would provide greater access for residents to the library services. He urged the Council to consider this and move forward. Ernie Gustafson, 2525 County Road I, stated he is opposed to the bridge. He feels grants such as the one awarded to the city are the reason the federal government is in debt. He uses the Long Lake Road/Highway 10 intersection regularly and he never sees anyone using the crosswalk on the signals and he doesn't feel the bridge will be used. Ed Gerner, 2103 Pinewood Drive, stated he is in support of the bridge. He lives next to 35 W and he can easily access Shoreview's parks to walk in. He cannot do that in Mounds View, nor can he use the library as he does not feel safe crossing Highway 10 on foot. Bill Fritz, 8072 Long Lake Road, stated he is opposed to the bridge. He feels using the franchise fees to help fund the bridge is dishonest. He feels the city would be spending a lot of money without much benefit. He has rarely seen anyone use the pedestrian bridges in Columbia Heights and doesn't feel it would be used in Mounds View either. Cam Obert, 8315 Greenwood Drive, feels the proposed bridge and community center are merely a moral test for government to determine how they will take care of the residents. The government needs to move with the times, and progress. Tom Ernstor, 2504 County Road H2, stated he is a bicyclist and would likely use the bridge. However, he is not comfortable with the council making a decision on the bridge with the three different financing scenarios in front of them. He stated he feels a film financial statement needs to be developed to show exactly where the funds to construct the bridge will come from.