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Meeting Notes <br /> <br />On February 14, 2002, Public Works Director Greg Lee, Community Development <br />Director Jim Ericson and resident Michele Sandback met with representatives from <br />MnDOT to discuss the unresolved issues associated with the absence of a sound <br />wall on the south side of Highway 10, between County Road J and 35W. The <br />MnDOT representatives were Frank Pafko, Area Manager; Peter Wasko, Noise <br />Abatement Specialist; and Beth Neuendorf, Area Engineer. <br /> <br />The representatives from MnDOT brought with them a copy of the Highway 10 <br />survey that showed the area from 35W to County Road J. The areas where sound <br />walls currently exist were pointed out, and the areas lacking a sound wall were also <br />identified. In addition, it was pointed out to us where the shift in lanes occurred <br />from three to two and then back to three lanes. <br /> <br />Pafko summarized what has happened in the past, referencing a meeting at City <br />Hall last August with the mayor, Sen. Chaudhary, Ms. Sandback and City Staff. <br />Pafko reiterated that MnDOT would contribute $300,000 toward sound wall <br />expansion, whether that be expanding the length of the existing wall another 1,000 <br />feet or contributing the money to the City for a more comprehensive solution. The <br />$300,000 was arrived at assuming the 20-foot tall wall should have been extended <br />1,000 feet beyond where it now terminates at $300 a lineal foot. Pafko agreed that <br />if costs of wall construction increased due to inflation or if it can be shown that the <br />wall should have been extended 1,250 instead of 1,000 feet, he would attempt to <br />get more money for the City. As it is now, however, they’ve committed $300,000. <br /> <br />If eastbound Highway 10 were expanded to three lanes, MnDOT would be required <br />to install a noise wall or some other kind or combination of noise mitigation <br />features. And while it appears as though the third lane is already a necessity (the <br />models actually indicate that FOUR lanes would be required to satisfy existing and <br />projected volumes) there is no guarantee WHEN the third lane would be added, <br />especially considering the current budget problems. Could be five years, could be <br />fifteen. Sandback asked if the City did install noise abatement measures at its own <br />expense, would MnDOT reimburse the City if the third lane were added the next <br />year or at some future date? Pafko said that while anything was possible, he <br />thought it to be unlikely.