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Mounds View City Council October 11, 1999
<br />Regular Meeting Page 13
<br />credit for changing the City's road policy, which reduces the assessment rate on business and
<br />residents from the present 50 percent, to 25 percent, he would not bind a future Council with an
<br />unfunded mandate. He stated he did not enjoy this, and would rather cut the fee in half,
<br />however, the State of Minnesota has set levy limits and restrictions on city government, and
<br />there must be a funding source for the roads. He explained the next road projects will be coming
<br />forward in 2 to 3 years, and either he, or a future Mayor, would be receiving a report that a road
<br />must be done, and there will be no funds available.
<br />Mayor Coughlin stated he was planning for the future. He commented this was a painful
<br />process, and he wished past Council's had considered the long term, and provided a plan to pay
<br />for the roads. He explained, however, "the buck stops here", and he would take responsibility
<br />for it. He stated it was his desire to leave a City that is in as great, or better shape, when his
<br />children are grown, and he is an old person, in one of the senior high rises. He added that
<br />whether or not you agree with this explanation, the Council has a duty to protect the investment
<br />of the citizens who have gone before, in the streets, sidewalks, trails, and infrastructure of the
<br />City.
<br />Mayor Coughlin reiterated that Mounds View is a small town, and they have not invested in the
<br />infrastructure when they should have, and when it would have been much less expensive. He
<br />reiterated that what is good in terms of road standards can be debated, however, the City can not,
<br />and he will not, ignore this issue, and pass this responsibility on to someone else. He added he
<br />was not about to sign a document to reduce assessment rates on citizens when their roads need to
<br />be redone, if the City does not have funds available to make up the difference. He explained the
<br />• good faith of the City begins with the Mayor, and he intends to meet these obligations, adding
<br />that if this proposal is overturned, he will propose an 100 percent assessment rate for everyone,
<br />so they can pay for the road in front of their house.
<br />Mayor Coughlin noted a recent street project on his road, and a number of people who live there
<br />had asked him how they were going to pay $7,000 to $9,000 for assessment. He explained that
<br />many of these people live on fixed incomes and can not afford to pay this amount, even on a ten-
<br />year payment plan. He advised that he must protect the interests of these people as well. He
<br />stated these projects would cost a certain amount of money, whether they are paid for in small
<br />increments, or up front. He noted that bonds are delayed taxation, plus interest, and he advised
<br />the City could set money aside, and earn interest on it to provide there is a little more to work
<br />with when the time comes to undertake some of these projects, or there will be no funds
<br />available.
<br />Mayor Coughlin stated this matter was not optional, and must be addressed. He added if anyone
<br />could come forward with a better idea of how to generate the funds necessary to deal with these
<br />issues, he was more than willing to listen. He explained, however, the hands of the City have
<br />been tied with levy limits and the like, and the City must act now. He reiterated there are streets
<br />and roads in the City that will require attention in a few years, and that will not be the time to
<br />deal with the funding issue.
<br />State Representative Barbara Haake stated her home was located on County Road I, one of
<br />the roads that has recently been resurfaced. She commented that many people have driven down
<br />her road, and are aware of the condition it was in, and how very important it was that it was
<br />upgraded. She added this was not the only road in Mounds View in this type of condition. She
<br />stated she sat on two committees at the State House of Representatives, that relate to the present
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