10-28-1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO Cm' COliVCIl MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 1996 (Corridor Selection for Hwy 12 Upgrade - Continued) Jenney suggested no vote be taken for the following reasons He questioned why the ' three lane option was not accepted suggesting it was because it was developed by someone else He said the facts relative to the number of homes was wrong Jenney said he was told 13 homes were affected and information points to 40 homes Jenney says it is not hard to do due diligence He reported that Mn'DOT said they were unable to construct a list of homes affected until November 7. Jenney feels without having the facts, the right decision cannot be made Jenney said Jabbour and Goetten suggested citizens meetings Jenney suggests individual meetings and feels the citizens have not been heard outside of the public forum Jenney said he spoke with City Administrator Moorse on this date He asked Moorse if the vote w as reversible or if the next Council could reverse the vote I le said he w as informed that Moorse was unsure Jenney said the decision made may or may not be binding Jenney feels there should be due diligence to find out the facts noting there is no rush as the Council has 120 days past November 21. Jenney said the issue of a binding vote should be determined prior to the vote. John Offerman, 330 Silver Meadow Drive, Orono, noted that an issue of concern has not been addressed He asked the Council if they vote in favor of this proposal that a contract be drawn ensuring that the two lane highway would not be expanded to four or six lanes in the future Callahan responded that there was no method to get four lanes into the proposed right-of-way Callahan said Mn/DOT should consider four lanes now to see if there was the land available if that is their intent Callahan w as of the opinion that Mn/DOT would come back w ith such a proposal in 20 years if the population does grow to the west. Callahan said he docs not, however, believe gaining two lanes now is an effort to eet four lanes in the future and lessens the possibility for the need tor four lanes. Offerman reiterated his request for a contract limiting the highway to two lanes. Tr.e Council was also asked if any one of them was affected by the corridor in regards to their residences or businesses It was noted that no one on the Council is affected. Jim Murphy, 30 Orono Orchard Road, said he came away from the mediation meetings w'ith the belief that Ma^DOT has come up w ith an alternative that all can adopt. He noted that how rational or irrational people are is directly dependent on how they will be affected by the proposal Murphy said he was proud of how the people worked together on the three lane proposal. He feels that the alternative is a "done deal" and the vote should be made He asked that all of the people pull together He implored the Mayor to pay attention to those affected noting they are angry and hurt. Callahan responded to the truth of Murphy's statement. He agreed that people affected will be emotional wherever the corridor is located Callahan said the Council will do all it can to lessen the problems. He noted that the general issues concerning mitigation of impacts brought fbnvard by Long Lake deserv'e senous attention. 1m #