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