07-14-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 14, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 19 (PUBLIC COMMENTS, Continued) Ahrens stated the area experienced two major issues following the rainstorm, and the first was the lakeside flooding. The residents have had to cope with flooding in yards, crawl spaces, and garages. The second issue relates to the road problems that the residents are requesting assistance from the City in addressing. Ahrens displayed pictures of the flooding showing the magnitude of the problems. Ahrens stated there are approximately six or eight back yards that used to have nice green grass but are now flooded. Ahrens indicated the residents had to construct berms around the back of two homes because the lake was coming up very close to the homes and pumps have been running 24/7 for quite a while now. Ahrens noted in addition to the twenty residences on Baldur Park Road, there are eleven more on Birch Lane which connects to Baldur Park. The Birch Lane residents have to go in and out of Baldur Park Road. The length of the road is approximately 1,100 feet and a maximum of 20 feet wide. Ahrens stated the asphalt has been deteriorating for a number of years and there are large potholes everywhere. Due to being located on a peninsula, the soil in the area becomes very wet and spongy which causes the road to settle and result in speed bumps near the culverts. Ahrens stated the flooding covered up approximately 450 feet of the roadway and was six to eight inches deep. Ahrens displayed pictures of the flooded roadway and the flooded yards as well as pictures depicting the deteriorated condition of the roadway. Ahrens noted the City came out and helped construct the berms along the roadside and in front of some of the garages. Ahrens pointed out the berm had to wrap around one garage on the south side of the road. Ahrens displayed a picture of Birch Lane and noted that roadway was reconstructed in 2012 with concrete curbs. Ahrens stated the City could authorize the City Engineer to move forward with plans and specs, go out for bids in 2014, and perhaps find a way to budget money to begin construction as soon as possible. Ahrens stated he would also like to mention the truck weight limit and that there have been a number of big trucks coming in and out on Baldur Park Road in relation to a house that has been under construction for the past three years. Ahrens indicated the large trucks cannot turn around due to the narrowness of the road and that at times they attempt to maneuver into someone’s driveway or back down the roadway. Ahrens stated he would recommend posting weight limits on an annual basis as well as limiting the length of the vehicle or the number of axles on a truck. Ahrens stated most contracting companies do have small trucks that could be used. Ahrens stated the house two doors down from him poured concrete last year and he was told the concrete truck weighs at least 70,000 pounds, with one yard of concrete weighing 4,000 pounds. Ahrens stated he would like the City to consider limiting the weight of the vehicles on the roadway now to avoid the road getting further ripped up. Ahrens stated curbs along the road would also help stabilize the asphalt and make it stronger in the future. Ahrens stated he hopes the petition inspires the City to take action in the near future to move ahead with design, cost estimating, and construction of a new roadway.