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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 07-21 Angry Maplewood residents attend water plan hearing THE REVIEW Angry Maplewood residents . f),,t,a,d- attend water plan hearing 21 About 80 irate Maplewood residents, average citizen. His comments drew hot and stuffy.Residents fanned them- their expenses would be much greater for packed into the sweltering heat of the applause from the audience,but angered selves with information sheets provided replacement,as high as$30 per front foot Gladstone School gymnasium,blasted a the council. by the city.One man pushed his T-shirt up or more. proposed$1,760,000 water project in the Councilman Norm Anderson said the to expose his stomach and rested his feet Among other conerns expressed by city. project was needed to protect citizens in on a chair throughout the evening. residents at the meeting were: The residents turned out Tuesday,July case of fire,because construction of the THE POSSIBILITY of moving the 13 for the second of four public hearings lines would assure adequate pressure for One speaker asked the council whether Flandrau line to another street. The being conducted by the Maplewood City fire-fighting.Anderson also said Apbert citizens or the council would decide council noted that the City of St. Paul Council on the project. should"get off your high horse.We'd like whether or not the project is approved. wishes to provide water and lines at the The three-hour hearing drew shouts, to resolve this thing."Fellow councilman Mayor Robert Bruton explained the Flandrau point, that location is most boos, hisses and sometimes profanity Donald Wiegert noted that Apbert's free decision will be made by the council,and economical in terms of total costs and the from residents,most of whom objected to offer meant the Maplewood city attorney the audience shouted"No way.No way." age of the present Flandrau line. proposed assessment plans, not the would defend the city."He's paid by you One man then called the councilmen project as a whole. people,"Wiegert said."You are taking -dictators," THE DIFFICULTY of senior citizens yourselves to court. You are suing Residents expressed various concerns. and young couples in paying the At one point,resident and attorney Bob yourselves."Wiegert also said Apbert did They said the distribution of assessments assessments. One speaker said "Young Apbert,1922 Flandrau,came before the not understand the meaning of the word was unfair.One man said"Why should I couples and old people are so overloaded council,turned his back on them and then 'benefit' as used in such projects. "I have to pay$3,000 when my neighbors will with taxes.We find our available dollars urged residents to join in a class action suggest you look up'benefit'in your legal pay only$92 and get the same benefit?' shrinking all the time.Something has got suit against the city to stop the project. dictionary,"he said. Mayor Bruton explained this project is to give."The council pointed to its dif- "It's no use to address the council," he Throughout the evening, residents the first time the city has looked at a ferent-than-usual assessment plan for said."I'm here to talk to you people(the speaking before the council objected to surcharge or area assessment in any this project. residents)." the assessment method proposed.Several water improvement. Apbert said he would represent other preferred greater area assessments, Residents of Flandrau often opposed THE MANNER in which the council residents free of charge in the suit,which "with everyone paying the same,"while replacement of their main,which several has presented the proposal,One resident he said would stop any council action others suggested business in the north noted still worked fine. The council said said citizens had "only two weeks" to while the courts decided the matter.He part of Area 1 pay the costs. the Flandrau main is one of the oldest in react to the proposal. Councilman said the council was backing the project As residents spoke to these concerns, the city,having been installed by the City Anderson,who lives at 1603 Frost and will to aid developers, "people who are other members of the audience would of St.Paul at no cost to residents to ser- himself be assessed in the project,said, making a lot of bread." cheer or clap. Council comments often vice the Ramsey County Home. Coun- "No one can come up with a really sen- He said the project was"reasonable drew shouts.In all,the crowd erupted 26 cilman repeatedly pointed out that should sible answer to this problem. Anybody and just"for developers but not for the times in three hours, becoming noisy the elevated tank be constructed and can criticize the way we're assessing this, enough to render conversation between pressure increased in the area,then the but we don't get any better ideas." the council and the speakers impossible. Flandrau main as it now exists might Another resident told the council,"This The meeting was conducted in over 80 burst. Councilman John Greavu told may be the best way to do it,but we don't degree weather and the gymnasium was resident that if the Flandrau main burst, believe you." What is the waterp Ian ? In a series of four public lies in Area 2 near Edgerton Street. "life," according to figures hearings, the Maplewood City It calls for construction of a$131,000 presented the council. Those Council has presented plans for a booster station.A public hearing on figures say the average life of a $1,760,000 water improvement that item was conducted Tuesday, main is 30 years. Residents of the project to citizens. July 6 and the project was approved other affected streets, which have The sessions, conducted from by the council. main less than 30 years old,will be Tuesday,July 6 to Tuesday,July 20, In Area 1, assessments will be credited with amounts they paid for were designed at giving the council approached in "a different way previous main installations. input from citizens. The council than is normally done," according Residents of Frost Avenue will be indicated it feels the project is to Mayor Robert Bruton. He said assessed $6.75 per front foot. necessary,but wished citizen input the council plans to take more of Owners of homes on English from regarding the assessments. an"area approach"in determining Frost to County Road B will be The project proposed by the assessments, based on a $400 per assessed $7.65. Assessments on council calls for three construction acre charge. This will be charged English from County Road B to projects in Area 1, that portion of all residents of Area 1. Cope will be $5.40 per front foot. the city bounded by Larpenteur on Additional money, totaling The council indicated at the July the south, I-694 on the north, Ariel $133,000, will be raised through 13 session that it feels the im- on the east and lakes Keller and assessments of property owners on provements are necessary to Phalen on the west. streets wh vary in amount, assure adequate water pressure in Proposed for Area 1 are 1) depending upon the age of the some areas of the city, in case of 1 construction of a 16-inch water existing water main. fire, and to enable development of ' main on English from Frost to The council plans call for northerly portions of the city. Highway 36,2)construction of a 24- residents of Flandrau to be The Flandrau street line is being inch water line on Flandrau from assessed $13.50 per front foot. increased in size for that purpose.It Larpenteur to Frost and then on Residents of English, from Cope to was noted that the City of St. Paul, Frost to Prosperity, and 3) con- Highway 36, will also be assessed which feeds water to Maplewood struction of a 1.5 million gallon $13.50. city boundaries, is able to deliver elevated storage tank in the vicinity Residents in other affected water and lines in sufficient size to of Highway 36, Cope and German. streets will be charged less, meet Maplewood needs to the The fourth aspect of the project because existing mains still have Flandrau location.