10-25-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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From:Bill Bruning To:Jeremy Barnhart Cc:Denny Walsh; Adam Edwards Subject:LA21-000068 / Maintenance Facility Proposal Date:Wednesday, October 13, 2021 7:46:20 PM Attachments:image002.png Hello Mr. Barnhart, When Orono offered our neighborhood to MnDOT for the construction of the highway 12 bypass, it was the path of least resistance. 365 Old Crystal Bay Rd., site of the proposed Orono maintenance facility & fire station, was used for years as a ramp for thousands of trucks hauling dirt from the highway excavation, as well as an encampment for MnDOT workers and equipment delivery. Hundreds of trees were eliminated, the train tracks were moved closer to our home and two of our former neighbor’s properties were used as MnDOT dump sites / see pictures attached below. The City of Orono mislead us before we purchased our home 27 years ago by showing us four proposed MnDOT routes for the highway 12 bypass, not the fifth route approved nine months later. With our property immediately devalued, we were financially unable to move. MnDOT told our neighborhood that it didn’t warrant the expense of noise mitigation and advised us that we would get used to the noise. Orono’s then mayor advised us not to upset MnDOT. It’s now been 15 years of highway noise and increased train noise 24-7-365. Orono now wants to continue the demise of our neighborhood with the construction of a maintenance facility. When Orono took a portion of our property for a path along Old Crystal Bay Rd., as a good will gesture we did not file lawsuits as other neighbors had. When MnDOT did the pile driving for the second of two OCBR bridges, it cracked our garage floor apron but refused responsibility ($2,500 / cost to us for repairs). My Orono property taxes contributed to the $2 million purchase price of Big Island to which I have no access. Perhaps Orono could, as a good will gesture, now recognize what we’ve had to tolerate and choose a different site for this maintenance facility. I ask that you consider our scenario to be that of your own home. Thank you, William Bruning 315 Silver Meadow Dr. Orono Council Exhibit C LA21-68