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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 11, 2014 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 12 (8. 3165 NORTH SHORE DRIVE – REVIEW OF SITE FILLING AND GRADING WORK, Continued) Martini stated he again visited the site this morning and the grading has been completed for the most part. The contractor will be installing an irrigation system and hydro seeding the site to re-establish turf on the disturbed land area. It appeared at that time that not all the water in one corner of the lot was being directed the way it should be and a discussion was had with the contractor about possibly extending an existing berm on the site. Martini stated it is expected the work will be completed in the next week, which will then allow the turf to be established. Martini stated some of the neighbors are here tonight and may have some comments and concerns that they would like to share with the City Council. Mack stated there has been considerable Staff time devoted to monitoring the work and that the reason for bringing it before the City Council was the changes in the scope of the work that was reflected in the original plan. Mack stated the changes essentially were directed and approved by the City’s Consulting Engineer. Mack stated no formal action is required by the City Council at this point but that Staff wanted to provide an opportunity for the Council to review the scope of the project. McMillan stated she is aware that some of the neighbors have concerns and that she would allow them to speak at this time. Jim Mandel, 3155 North Shore Drive, stated he is one of the adjacent neighbors and that he would like to provide a brief history of the project. Mandel noted this project has basically been ongoing for the past seven years or so and that most of the parties have inherited this issue. Mandel stated over the past seven years he has had a project on each side of his property and that both projects barely resemble what they were originally shown. Mandel stated as it relates to 3165 North Shore Drive, almost 70 percent additional fill was added, which is a fairly substantial change and probably amounts to a couple hundred trucks. Mandel stated he is not here to cause any harm or blame his neighbors but that he would like the project to be completed. Mandel stated in his view everyone is doing as much as they can to accomplish that, but that he would like some reasonable assuredness that this project is not going to further harm his property. Mandel stated they have experienced some fairly substantial damage to their property, with some part of it being caused by excessive runoff that came from the subject property due to the project not being finished. Mandel stated he also granted an easement to accommodate some of the runoff. Mandel noted the City Council approved this project a number of years ago and the work never got completed. Mandel stated to this date the work is still not done and that in his view it comes down to an accountability issue. Mandel stated the City should have a goal or an obligation to protect its citizens and if it grants extensions to projects, that is fine; but that they should take steps to ensure the projects are completed. Mandel stated until the City got more involved, it was not getting done, and that in his view these projects should not continue indefinitely and that there should be a start date and an end date as well as accountability. Mandel stated he would like to especially thank Andrew Mack for his work on this project. Mandel stated in his view Mack was fair and equitable and made a difference. Mandel stated as a resident of the City, that is what he is looking for in a City employee. Item #02 - CC Agenda - 08/25/2014 Approval of Council Minutes 08/11/2014 [Page 5 of 12]