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<br /> <br />~ <br />EN HILLS <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />May 7, 2003 <br /> <br />Josephine Hills Association Task Force <br />c/o Linda Swanson <br />1124 Ingerson Road <br />Arden Hills, MN 55112 <br /> <br />Re: Easement Request from Josephine Hills Association Task Force <br /> <br />Dear Taskforce Members, <br /> <br />Thank you for your April 30, 2003 letter. As you indicated, the Arden Hills City Council <br />has authorized city staff to negotiate a "noccost" easement for drainage improvements on <br />the Association's property. Based on your request, this item will be placed on the City <br />Council's May 12,2003 agenda, <br /> <br />For your reference, city staff believes that the proposed improvements are preferable and <br />advance both the city's and lake area resident's mutual desire for improved water quality . <br />in Lake Josephine. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, staff will be recommending <br />to the City Council that the city decline your offer of $,75 per square foot ($4125 total). <br />These reasons include the following: <br /> <br />~ As part of the proposed improvement, the Association will realize <br />improvements to other areas of their property including a new bridge, <br />landscaping, and improvement of the channel. For example, the cost of the <br />bridge alone is estimated at $12,000, <br /> <br />~ The city has expended over $10,000 in staff, legal, and engineering time in an <br />effort to come to a mutually beneficial solution on this issue, Additional items <br />called for in the Taskforce's letter such as an "Agreement of Understanding" <br />will result in additional direct and indirect expenses. Just as the Association <br />has a responsibility to ensure that its interests appropriately represented, the <br />city also has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that limited public resources <br />are used efficiently and effectively, <br /> <br />~ The 2003 Ramsey County estimated market value of the Association's <br />property is $32,500 (limited market value for taxation purposes is $11,000). <br />This translates into a value of $,77 per square foot. Using the methodology <br />outlined in the Taskforce's April 30'\ 2003 letter, this would yield an <br />easement value of $.38 per square foot for a total cost of $2,104, This is . <br />significantly less than the Taskforce's offer of$4,125, <br /> <br />City of Arden Hills . 1245 West Highway 96 . Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5794 <br />Phone 651.634.5120 . Fax 651.634.5137 . www.cLarden-hills.mn.us <br />