11-25-1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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,j 4* " ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 259 1996 • ROLL The Council met on the above mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Edward J. Callahan, Jr., Council Members J. Diann Goetten, Gabriel Jabbour, Charles Kelley, and JoEllen Hurr. Representing Staff were City Administrator Ron Moorse, City Attorney Tom Radio, City Engineer Glenn Cook, Public Works Director John Gerhardson, Building and Zoning Administrator Jeanne Mabusth, Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Michael Gaffron, and Recorder Sherry Frost. Mayor Callahan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ( #1) PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING - BRACKETTS POINT CURVE (COUNTY ROAD 15) ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT Bruce Polaczyk, Hennepin County Engineer, along with two members of the design team, were present. Polaczyk reported that Indian burial mounds have been found in the area which was previously approved for the layout for the CoRd 15 improvements. Jim Jones of Indian Affairs has confirmed the mound locations. As a result, the road design has been shifted to the east in order to thread the road through the mounds. This new layout has a major impact on the homes to the east resulting in the need to build 10' high retaining walls. Polaczyk said the right -of -way department has estimated the cost for the road relocation • at $150,000. The construction cost total is estimated at $240,000. The majority of the costs involved for Orono is for right -of -way at 50% of the total for an amount estimated at $75,000- $80,000. Polaczyk said Indian Affairs has highly recommended avoiding the area around the Indian mounds. The County is now of the opinion that the County and City would not gain the value necessary to warrant the curve of the road through the mounds. Callahan polled the audience. It was found that approximately 12 people were in attendance regarding this issue. Of that number, no one was in favor of this curve reconstruction. Jabbour indicated he informed an Indian commission member that the City is sensitive to the issue of Indian Mounds and would go beyond the limit of the law to protect them. Jabbour said the City should not construct the roadway in the area of the mounds. Hurr said she is concerned with safety and the lack of shoulder of the current roadway and would have liked to have seen the curve straightened out. Polaczyk said the project would have granted the opportunity to open up the sight lines and accommodate the need to pull off onto the shoulder. Polaczyk said the County feels the curve would have to be flattened and configuration changed, but this would affect the Indian mounds, and the County is also sensitive to this issue. Hurr cited another example of disturbing of Indian is mounds in the past at Green Tree.