Agenda Packets - 1999/08/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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a spot in the flange, which starts as a small pinhole in the flange, and it continues to expand. He stated, for the most part,Mounds View has sandy soils, and they have not had many problems in this regard. He stated these situations were the reason the ordinance was revised to provide repair paid for by the City for any impervious surface repair. Mayor Coughlin clarified it was the present City Code, that the homeowner is responsible for the service coming off the main and to the house. Director of Public Works Ulrich stated this was correct, and added that the homeowner is also responsible for all of the appendages between those points, for water and sewer lines alike. Council Member Marty inquired regarding the definition of"hot soils." Director of Public Works Ulrich explained this represented an organic soil. Mayor Coughlin added it was a soil that would affect the pH factor, relative to the metal in the ground. Mrs. Vigen stated, in her understanding of the Code, the homeowner was not responsible to the main,but to the street. She stated that she is being asked to pay for the repairs across the street. She stated is seems to her that the addition of$9,700 to the cost of her home would never be recovered. She stated she was a widow and,in regard to the waiver offered in light of her senior citizenship,she would be paying twice for that repair. She stated that 6.5 percent interest on$9,700 is $7,205, and with that,the principal is not even impacted. She stated she did not think this would be recovered at the time the house was sold. She stated she could only appeal to the Council's sense of fairness and equity in this matter. She stated this was not the first problem. She stated the first time this occurred she decided to follow the guidance of Council Member Thomason, and what she had read in the Charter. She stated she believed something else was being referenced in regard to her responsibility to the water main. She stated she would have to go back and re-read the Charter. Angela Vigen, 5108 Sunnyside Road, stated she was Mrs. Vigen's daughter. She stated, in December, a City worker had informed her that she and her mother were responsible for the repair from the curb to the house. She stated that being required to go across the street adds more to the cost of the repair. Mayor Coughlin requested Director of Public Works Ulrich confirm for the Council the present Code, which indicates from the main to the residence. Director of Public Work Ulrich stated this was correct, as set forth in Section 906.08. Mayor Coughlin stated that it was not the City's responsibility to find a contractor or to deem whether or not they are ethical, only that they are in keeping with the Code. He stated it is incumbent upon any resident with a problem concerning a contractor,to do research with the Better Business Bureau,Department of Commerce and other similar agencies,in dealing with these people. Mayor Coughlin stated there is no conspiracy to get rid of houses or to run people out of the City. He stated if there were,it was a conspiracy hatched twenty years ago when the developers ran these lines, and it would be their conspiracy, not the City's. He stated they would not want to tie up the City work crews with situations like this. He stated the City crews had enough work to carry out in regard to the maintenance of City streets and the like. He stated, in his recollection of the Code, if the City goes any farther than to allow this to be put on a deferred tax basis,it would set a precedent. 12 C:\ADMIN\MINUTES\CC\8-9-99.CC