Osakis City Council

Special Meeting held at Community Center

April 21, 2004

7:00 PM

Mayor Astleford called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM 

The pledge of Allegiance was spoken. 

Present: Astleford, Nordstrom, Timmerman

Absent: Hagemann, Emerson 

The purpose of the public hearing is for the Street Projects for 2^nd Ave E, 4^th Ave E, 5^th Ave E, 6^th Ave E, and Loon Street.  

Tom Klemenhagen and Brian Hiles were in attendance. 

Tom Klemenhagen explained the cities assessment policy.  For existing curb and gutter the city pays 70% of cost and the property owner pays 30%.  For new construction the city pays 25% and the property owner pays 75%.  What everyone received in the mail was according to the assessment policy.   

With the new figures the city will be paying for the 50% of the long side of the corner lots instead of assessing the cost to the whole block. 

The Total Cost of the project is $310,259.30.  The cities portion is $161,357.98, so the total cost being assessed is $148,901.32. 

Phil Betts- asked how the streets were selected.  Klemenhagen stated that the city identified these streets as the streets in most need of improvement. 

Nordstrom read the League of Minnesota cities policy on improvement:  If the project is petition you need 30% of the property owner’s agreement and a majority vote from the council.  If the council initiated the improvements then we need a 4-5^th vote to pass the improvements, and since we do not have 4-5^th of the council represented we can not make a vote tonight. 

Jacobson read letters from Owen Michaelson 106 5^th Ave E, and Stanley Michaelson 200 6^th Ave E. 

Laura Backes stated that she wanted everyone to know that the reason that Loon Street is being paved is not because the visitor center is moving downtown.  OEDC would be willing to put some money towards the project on Loon Street. 

Much concern was expressed over the farm machinery and wagons that use Loon Street for getting into the elevator.  Klemenhagen stated the street would be a 7 Ton street, and that it would be no different than the machinery using the other streets in town to get to the elevator. 

Phil Betts asked if Reggie Redetzke would be attending the next meeting.  Astleford said he didn’t think so but would mention it. 

Mayor Astleford also mentioned that we could have Emerson, and Hagemann listen to the tapes to get caught up on the feeling of everyone at the meeting. 

Everyone was heard and all questions were answered. 

Mayor Astleford recessed the meeting at 8:45pm until the May 3^rd regular council meeting, to be held at the Community Center.

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Mayor – Gary L. Astleford                                       Deputy Clerk – Angela A. Jacobson