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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—JULY 28, 2025 9 Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 8:44 p.m. Chris Mertz, 1131 Karth Lake Drive, commented on the preliminary special assessment calculations and questioned why there was a discrepancy between the benefit between lakefront and non-lakefront property. Mayor Grant stated the benefit to the individual homeowner on a lakefront versus non-lakefront property does differ. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen commented on the City's assessment policy. He reported to support the proposed assessment calculations, the City had an appraiser come out to further investigate the benefits for lakefront versus residential properties. He stated traditionally the City follows the assessment policy and these rates were applied as proposed. Mr. Tufts, 1127 Amble Drive, questioned why the City stopped doing chip seal projects. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen reported the City was part of a JPA with 15 other cities. He explained that other cities have raised concerns with chip sealing and delamination. Mr. Tufts commented he did not have a choice when it came to the chip sealing that was completed on his roadway and indicated he would like the City to take some ownership over why his road was in such poor condition. Mayor Grant indicated the City's roadway standards have changed over time and reported delamination has impacted streets all over the State, not just Arden Hills. Mr. Tufts questioned if sub-grade testing would be completed on his roadway. He anticipated his sub-grade would get a failing grade because his roadway was failing. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen stated soil borings and pavement cores were taken in order to better understand the sub-grade. He indicated Braun Intertec would then provide the City with recommendations on what type of rehab should be done to the pavement. He explained additional testing, roll testing and density testing would be completed prior to applying pavement. Mr. Tufts asked if the City had considered any alternative materials, such as concrete. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen reported concrete has not been considered for cost reasons. Mr. Tufts stated he would like to see a cost comparison between asphalt and ultra-thin wide topping. He explained if his road was damaged due to chip sealing and the life expectancy was reduced, this was not his problem. He indicated he would like to better understand what the life expectancy would be of the new pavement. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen commented that the life expectancy of a full depth reclamation project was 20 years.