HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 07-20 Residents balk at costs DISPATCH r'+7)T.", y St.Paul Dispatch
jp(E) Tues.,July 20,'76
Residents
balk at
costs
A $1.7 million proposal to im-
prove Maplewood's water pres-
sure met with stiff opposition
Thursday night from English
Street residents.
The residents expressed their
feelings at the third of four pub-
lic hearings before the Maple-
wood City Council.
JAMES WILEY, an engineer
for Kirkham, Michael and Asso-
ciates, Minneapolis, said Maple-
wood has been growing faster
than anticipated,resulting in de-
creased water pressure in many
areas of the community.
The council is proposing the
construction of several new wa-
ter mains, a pumping station
and a 1.5 million gallon water
storage tank.
Most of the residents at the
public hearing were not happy
with the proposed assessment
for the water system improve-
ments.
Bill Diesslin, 2115 English St.,
said, "We are paying enough
taxes out here,and I don't want
to pay any more.Over the years, !
I have paid for my water system
three times."
THE COUNCIL is proposing
an area assessment of $400 per
acre for the construction of the
pumping station and the water
s t or age tank. This would
amount to $92 for a 10,000-
square-foot lot.
In addition, a watermain as-
sessment would have to be paid
by residents living on streets
designated for new watermains.
For example, residents living
on English Street from Cope
Street to Hwy. 36 would be re-
quired to pay $13.50 per front
foot.
Marvin Lorge, speaking for
his mother who lives on Eng-
lish, said she already has paid
for a couple of wells, including
the assessment for the present
watermain on English. The cost
of these water improvements
should be distributed equally so
as "not to nail the poor people
on English Street,"Lorge said.
COUNCILMAN Burton Mur-
dock said the council is trying to
find an equitable method of fi-
nancing this system. However,
"We have to increase water
pressure, and how are we going
to do it unless we assess the res-
idents of Maplewood?"
Mayor Robert Bruton said the
council came to the conclusion
that the city has a serious water
problem,after many tests and a
great deal of study and thinks it
found the most economical
method of solving the problem.
In many areas of Maplewood
a building moratorium has been
necessary because the water
pressure is deficient,he added.
WARREN Peterson,2257 Eng-
lish St., said, "I am against the
whole thing. I am happy with
the good neighbors I have now
and could care less if Maple-
wood expands.Let's take care of
the people We have."