HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 06-13 Protest signs flag neighborhood REVIEW Protest signsflagnei hborhood
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Q\ The residents living near Highway 61 council voted unanimously on a request "The telephone cable that had been
'and Frost Avenue are unhappy with the that the state department and the lying on the ground was wrapped around
construction that began several weeks Maplewood council get together and the machine and the digger," Foyt said.
„ ago, and have found it necessary to post attempt to work out any changes that "It was kinked,but not severed,so we will
signs in their yards, voicing their would alter the construction in the be able to repair it.There was dirt and sod
opinions. residents yards. The center line was
all over the back hoe."
moved about four feet, which moved the
His company didn't press charges,
This is in reaction to the fact that the entire project four feet, but still not since there wasn't much damage done.
state highway department and Ramsey enough to satisfy the residents.
County are improving Parkway Drive Last week they placed signs in their "But the language we've had to put up
and Highway 61 intersection, and will be Yards, denouncing Maplewood, claiming with while working here is unbelievable,"
constructing left turn lanes. they were going to "sue for $500,000 Foyt said. "I've been around a lot of
damages." They hung paper skeletons swearing in my days,but the threatening
THE IMPROVEMENT includes taking from their porches and blockaded their was a little too much. I feel sorry for the
driveways with cars. fellows who have to stay on and work."
all but 15 feet of some of the property
owners front lawns. The state's right of According to Steven Foyt, employee of
way has been platted since 1937 and Minnesota Utility Contractor, they also Maplewood police chief Dick Schaller
improvements were inevitable, residents used abusive language to deter the commented that the disruption last
learned after appealing the decision to workers. Wednesday was handled by the
officials. "I'VE WORKED on this project one Maplewood officers and no complaints
After the residents made pleas to the week,and that's one week too long,"Foyt were filed.
Maplewood city council in April, the said. "I tried to stay off the owners'
property and tried not to drop dirt on their He also said that a Maplewood resident
lawns. had complained about an obscene word on
"But,sometimes,because of the size of one of the protest signs.The resident has
the area we have to work in, I was forced to drive by the property every day on his
to drive onto their property, or maneuver way to and from his home and didn't feel
my back hoe in their drives.The first day his children should be subjected to it.But,
I joined this project, I visited the police didn't ask the residents to remove
residents to tell them I would be moving a the sign, and it is still there.
telephone cable in the ground, and would All the signs remain in the residents'
need to do some work in their drives." yards as construction continues.
Last Wednesday afternoon, June 6, he
damaged the hydraulic hose on his back
hoe digger while working in the driveway
of two properties on Parkway Drive. The
machine could not be moved without
repairing the hose.
"I went to the house to tell the people I
was going to leave the machine there for a
couple of hours, but they weren't home,"
Foyt said.
He then left the machine in the
driveway while looking for a replacement
piece for the back hoe. Several hours
later,he arrived at his main office to tell
his supervisor about the problem, and
that he would have to return to the back
hoe that evening to fix it and move it.
"WE THEN got a call from the
Maplewood police that the citizens had
complained about the machine in the
drive."
When they arrived back on Parkway
Drive, Foyt said there were people
standing around shouting, and
Maplewood police were trying to calm
them.