03-24-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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GITYof ORONO Municipal Offices Street Address: 2750 Kelley Parkway Orono, MN 55356 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 66 Crystal Bay, MN 55323 0066 March 19, 1997 Representative Tom Workman 291 State Office Building St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 % Dear Representative Workman: 1 am writing on behalf of the Orono Mayor and City Council to underscore the importance of passing a bill out of your House Regulated Industries and Energy Committee concerning the authority of cities to manage the public rights-of-way. It is in the telecommunications industry's interest that no legislation be approved this year. If that occurs the rights of cities to manage the right-of-way will remain unclear and individual cities could be left to fight numerous expensive legal battles with the telecommunication industry' until the next legislative session. Because the deadline for passage of a bill out of your committee is March 26th, it is imperative that the committee pass the bill this Thursday. House File #322 as currently drafted contains substantial clarifying language outlining the necessary' controls cities need to manage the right-of-way. It is important that this language remain. Also, as currently drafted the bill would allow cities to recover their cost for right-of-way management and obligate utilities to compensate cities for damage done to the life of the pavement or assume ongoing responsibilities for the pavement cuts they make. These provisions are also important parts of the bill that must be maintained. The bill does nol include the ability of cities to charge for the right to use the right-of-way. This is an important right which cities currently have for utilities such as gas and electric and should be added to this bill. The bill would require the State (currently the Department of Public Service) to establish unifomi state-wide construction standards. Although general parameters for standards on a state-wide basis may be acceptable, cities need flexibility to reflect unique individual circumstances. If the bill must contain state-wide construction standards it must allow that type of flexibility. Thank you for your assistance on this critical legislation. Sincerely, • fax 47M510