02-11-1991 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD JANUARY 28, 1991 STREET CONVERSION ORDINANCE CONTINUED responsibility of paying taxes on that road." Mr. Wear said, "It is my understanding that I would still be responsible for the road from where it touches our property to the other end. How will the road be maintained? Who is dividing it up?" Bernhardson replied, "The City is going to take over the road completely." Mr. Wear said, "The City is going completely, but will not pay for it. compensated for it." to take over the road I believe I should be Mayor Peterson stated that she had raised the question of compensation to Mr. Wear at the last Council meeting. She asked Barrett to reiterate what his response to her question. Barrett said, "When the land was subdivided, Mr. Wear provided the City with an easement for the road it is now declaring public. When that easement was granted as a condition of the subdivision, Mr. Wear gave up all rights to the property, depending on when the City wantsd to open up the public road. That time may have come, depending on how Council votes on this Ordinance. If Council adopts the Ordinance, it is exercising the property rights it already holds to open the road to the public. That exercise of an existing property right by the City Council, does not require, in my judgment, compensation to someone who has previously held that property as a private road." Bernhardson added, "City Attorney Barrett had also stated at the last meeting that under most normal circumstances, roads in a community are dedicated public at the time of subdivision. is then the responsibility of the subdivid‘d;" to construct the road and turn it over to the City. It is jurt a matter of timing. The City could have taken the road wher !r. Wear's subdivision was completed. T-ie City is not doing anyt,,ing unusual." Ms. Priscilla Elder, 2050 Wear Circle, asked if the City was in fact taking over the maintenance of the road, and, ‘f so, when that would become effective. Bernhardson stated that the Ordinance, if adopted, would become effective once it is published on Monday, February 4, 1991." Ms. Elder stated her, nor her husband, publi:." that aside from those questions, neither had any concerns about the road becoming Mr. Michael Slevert, 85 Wear Lane North, stated that he paid - 16 -