HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 07-28 Maplewood proceeds with water project THE REVIEW Maplewood proceeds
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with water project
by Kamy ide
Councilman Norm Anderson voiced
It looks like a$1.7 million water im- strong objections to the assessment plan
provement project could come to the City and in particular the fact that
of Maplewood,as soon as the city council assessments were based on a pipe-life of
figures out just how residents will pay for 30 years,meaning that residents would be
it. assessed according to the age of the
The council directed its engineering water main already in their streets,with
department to proceed with final plans for mains over 30 years considered at the end
the improvements at its Thursday,July 22 of their usefulness.
gathering. That action followed four Anderson said many mains may ac-
public hearings on the subject. tually last 100 years and would prefer to
However,the council indicated it feels it see Maplewood consider a pipe life of 75
will have to come up with a different Years."I can't accept the idea that a pipe
assessment plan, following strong is good for only 30 years,"Anderson said.
criticism of original plans by city Councilman Burton Murdock said many
residents. people in the business use a 40 year pipe
It was indicated that development of life.
final engineering plans will take four or Councilmen noted they may seek a
five months.The project must be ordered greater charge for area assessments,a
within six months of the public hearings, water surcharge or other methods to pay
which were conducted from July 6 to July for the improvements.
20,according to taw. The plans presented at the public
The council would have until that time hearings called for construction of a 16-
to determine exactly how to assess the inch water main on English from Frost to
improvements, according to the Highway 36, construction of a 24-inch
resolution adopted Thursday night.That water line on Flandrau from Larpentaur
motion directed preparation of final to Frost and then on Frost to Prosperity
plans, but said the project would not and construction of a 1.5 million gallon
be ordered until the council determines elevated storage tank in the vicinity of
which assessment method or methods will, Highway 36,Cope and German.
be used. - These projects would be financed partly
be residents of streets where main would
The council vote on the motion was 4-1, be installed and partly by an area-wide
with John Greavu dissenting. assessment,to be charged all residents in
He told other council members they Area 1,that part of the city bounded by
should not present one plan to the public Larpenteur on the south, 1-694 on the
and then change the assessment method north,Ariel on the east and lakes Keller
without another public hearing. and Phalen on the west.
City Attorney Don Lais said he did not All residents of Area 1 would have paid
feel another public hearing was a $400 per acre charge according to
necessary,because any plans presented proposals discussed at the hearings.
at the recent public hearings were called A fourth construction project,that of a
"proposed" and were shown "for $131,000 booster station on Edgerton has
illustrative purposes." already been approved by the council.