Re: Rocks in ROW (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Alistair & Karen Jacques RAS Old Long Lake Road Orono MN 55391 December 7, 2009 R�C47VA Dear Mr. Olson, We received your letter, dated December 4, 2009. C L w 94?00 n-CFCRo I must first correct your understanding that Mr. Oberaigner spoke to my wife and our landscapers, and �� that the rocks were subsequently moved and have since been replaced. Mr. Oberaigner did speak to my wife, in June. She asked him to explain the right-of-way concern. He told her that our rocks are in violation of a city ordinance, but he did not identify the ordinance, or the logic behind it. She also asked that Mr. Oberaigner discuss the issue with me. He has not attempted to do so (other than a scribbled note on the back of a door -hanger, asking that I call an unidentifiable person named "Scott"... I threw it away, not realizing he was a city employee). I don't know whether, or not, he spoke to our landscapers, but they have no recollection of said conversation, and I can assure you the rocks have not been moved since they were originally placed there, in June. Per my letter to Mr. Oberaigner, these rocks represent expensive landscaping aimed at preventing folks from driving over the grass and flowers at the corners of our driveway. Can we assume the City supports our efforts to beautify the community? If we must move the rocks, can the City suggest an alternate method of protecting the corners of our driveway? For example, would the City build a curb? Please note, the reason we are forced to protect our landscaping is that the city would not allow us to have a horse -shoe driveway (like most of our neighbors do). So visitors are forced to reverse out of our driveway. In addition to destroying the corners of our landscape, this represents a significant risk to our guests and passing motorists, because they have to reverse into Old Long Lake Road traffic. I am not familiar with Section 18-2 of the Orono Municipal Code. Would you be kind enough to explain it, and its logic, please? For example, what is the "significant risk posed to city employees and equipment used for snow removal"? The road is far narrower at other points, often due to objects far larger than our rocks, such as trees, light posts, telephone poles, walls, and driveway gateposts (e.g. those at 1000 Old Long Lake Road). By the way, gateposts is another item the city forced us to move... at a cost of $5,000. It seems we are we being discriminated against? We will be very upset if the City simply confiscates our property, without giving us a reasonable opportunity to understand and respond to your demand. We cannot do this by 12/11/09. If the City insists on moving them sooner, please have someone contact us, so that we can direct a mutually acceptable placement. Mr. Oberaigner told my wife that there were several other homes violating this ordinance. None of them have removed their rocks. Why are we are being discriminated against? Again, I would like to understand why the rocks must be moved and whether all other houses on Old Long Lake Road are being asked to do the same? Specifically, all of those listed in my letter to Mr. Oberaigner but, more broadly, all houses on all roads in Orono? Thank you for your written response. We would appreciate the same, again, with response to all of our questions. Please feel free to contact me via letter, or email at aiacques@mchsi.com. Most sincerely, Alistair Jacques