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From:Steve Gerber [mailto:swg.gerber@gmail.com] Sent:Tuesday, February 13, 2018 11:38 AM To:Christine Mattson<CMattson@ci.orono.mn.us> Cc:Jeremy Barnhart<jbarnhart@ci.orono.mn.us>; Richard Crosby<rcrosby@ci.orono.mn.us>; Denny Walsh <dwalsh2@ci.orono.mn.us> , Subject: Re: 30 Orono Orchard Road N/permit#2016-00950 Hi Christine, I was quite surprised and confused by your recent email. In your email you said, "When the weather permits(after the snow melts) an inspector will visit the site to confirm the survey accurately depicts the conditions on the ground and that any disturbed areas have been established with vegetation." We talked last fall and you said you needed an as-built to verify what I understood was needed to complete the process and get my deposit back. Nothing was mentioned about an additional inspection of the property. If so, can you tell me why you did not have this inspection done before the snow was here? I was led to believe that the as- built was the last step. I paid a licensed professional to accurately depict the conditions. How is it that I was required to have this done if it is not valid? Bear with me as I recap the arduous process I was required to go through and how I feel I was taken advantage of: 1. I applied for a simple permit to add a 26x30 detached garage on our three acre parcel. I provided a survey that demonstrated our entire property and the footprint of the proposed garage. 2. I was told the survey was not good enough. Plus I was also told I needed to provide a plan for an alternate septic system. Given the circumstances, three acres, plenty of land, I asked why this was necessary. I was told everyone has to do it. I'd like to challenge the city to consider each circumstance and only add these requirements if they make sense. In my situation, it required a delay and a $750 additional expense. I think iYs common knowledge that 90+ percent of failed septic systems including drain fields are repaired not abandoned. Plus with as much land as I have, if the need ever does arise, this alternate site could have been dealt with at that time. Again, can the city implement some common sense into its requirements rather than blanket requirements? 3. After getting the alternative septic system plan and permit application submitted, it took a month for me to get the approved permit. I understand the plan reviewer was on vacation for a week, but not multiple weeks for your department to accept the plan. If you recall, after several unreturned emails, I finally came into city hall and told the ladies at the desk I was there to get my permit and that I would wait until it was completed. I was told someone would come out and talk to me. Unfortunately, there was a lack of courage by your department because after 15 minutes the ladies at the desk brought everything to me without explanation and without a visit from you. I signed the paperwork and on it, it said 1 would provide an as-built when the job was completed- per your request. I did not agree with this request but I signed it anyway because I did not have a choice. I was behind on my project starting, it was fall and I had work obligations that required me to leave town for an extended period. Shame on me for not arguing that my survey with the "penciled in"detached garage was enough. I just could not afford any more time fighting city hall. 4. After my final inspection, I came back to city hall and asked for my deposit. I received a phone call from you asking for the as-built. As we discussed, I had provided a survey and didn't know what else the as-built would provide. I was told my survey only had a hand drawn location of the garage on it. My response was why couldn't the city inspector who did the final inspection simply verify that the drawing location was correct. You reminded me I agreed to an as-built. So I acquiesced at the cost of another$566 expense for me. 2