10-14-2008 work session packet and minutes

Home Browse Search

; j I DSAE recommendation to combined subcommittee Orono Private Roads Greg Coughlin 9/17/08 From the Fall 2007 Municipal Screening Board motion, the DSAE will come forward with a recommendation of adjustment based on research of past adjustments. Marshall has provided a summary of past adjustments between 2000 and 2008. The summary includes a host of adjustments and types of adjustments including soil factors, speed bumps, bridge needs, maintenance, right of way, truck routes, private roads and more. Most were negative adjustments, about a quarter were positive adjustments and one was no adjustment. Even though these adjustments were all very different in nature and their outcomes were different, there is one common theme. As I understand, all these past adjustments have been recognized or precipitated by actions at the District State Aid offices or the SALT office in St Paul. For this reason, and given the fact that Kevin Hoglund at Bonestroo, Inc and the City of Orono came forward and self reported an inaccuracy in their needs reporting, this matter is very different from past adjustments. You are all aware this system was built to be a self reporting system. It's a system that expects users to do the right thing. It's a system built on honesty and integrity. State Aid staff oversight is kept to a minimum and there is no intent that we become officers to police the system. That is the way I'd like to keep it. In April 2007, the City of Orono through Kevin Hoglund approached the District State Aid office and inquired whether they were computing their mileage correctly. As Metro's DSAE, this is an approach I support and would expect all my cities and counties take and not fear coming to ask the questions because of potential penalties or adjustments. If adjustments for this case are too severe, you will be setting the bar very high and there will be no desire for anyone to come forward to self report inaccuracies. My recommendation is based on self reporting, it is based on honesty, fairness and reason, it is not arbitrary, it is defensible, it is the only one I can justify, it is based on my expectations of all cities and counties, it is the same position I would support if any of you came forward in a similar fashion, and it's based on the fact that the City of Orono has done exactly everything I have asked of them. My recommendation is for an adjustment retroactive, 1 '/4 years, to April 2007 when the City of Orono self reported inaccuracies in their approach. I believe if the Municipal Screening Board(MSB) subcommittees and the MSB agrees to this recommendation, the Orono private road matter will be resolved. Thank you for the opportunity to work with the City of Orono and provide my recommendation to the combined subcommittee. 57