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<br />Law Office ofJames S. SHerr
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<br />Send all replies to:
<br />P.O. Box 298
<br />Isanti, MN 55040
<br />
<br />James 5. Silen, Attorney At Law
<br />. Isanti, 11tnnesota 55040
<br />Telephone (763) 444-8509
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<br />September 24, 2005
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<br />Mayor Mary Capra
<br />Couricil Member JeffPaar
<br />Council Member Tom Lee
<br />CounCil Member MichelleLakso
<br />. Council Member RlchardTerway
<br />Dallas Larson, City Administrator
<br />cltyHail .. . . '. .
<br />Centerville,Mirinesota 55038
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<br />Re: Dock,on propert)' belohgingto John:j1ldJaIllie Bergeland
<br />. . 1715 Dupre RoadiCenterViIle,MN 55038 .' ' ,
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<br />.. DearMayor Capra atld Members o{the CityC()uncil: .
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<br />Irepres~nt John :j1ld Jainie Bergelarid;the owi1er~of lot :2 inilie,Phelisa'nt Marsh '.. ,.
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<br />Addition located at 1715 Dupre Rpad, Centerville; Minnesota; The Bergelands have
<br />peen cont~ct~d by the City of C~ntervi1ie abo~ttheiem()valof:a d~ck located ontheir
<br />.property. .Jamie Bergeland and 1 app~ared at the September 14,20QS,Co\lncill11eeting
<br />and asked the Coullcil tOfYconsidl)fitsobjections to the dock. At thatmeeting, I
<br />. ..questionedwhetherthecity wasjustified in hsheigl1tened ~ncern:~yerits liability fora. '
<br />. doc~()nprivateproperty. The (;ity attQrlleyjl.lstifiedthe cily'sWnceffi witp.rtlferynceto .
<br />):1lemorandareceivedfrom the League of Minnes()ta Cities arid indicatedthlifthedock is
<br />ill, a drainlige easement which is siibjec!totheSity's Ordirian<<eNurilherA "
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<br />. 'TheLeagtie ofMiririesota Cities; memoranda titled Loss Control Quarterlv is dated ...
<br />. Surnrner 1990 and can be questioned a.s to its current relev?llce, Iri.arecent telephone.
<br />conversation with RlienLongfellow; the LMCIT Staff Attomeyand author of the ..,
<br />. memorandum, Ms. Longfellow was unable t() ,cite any MinnesOta case which imposed '~.,.
<br />municipal liability for an aecidentonaprivate pond. Moreover,thememorandum. .
<br />addresses private docks attached to city property which is notthe case at hand: Finally,
<br />the League's material included in your packet of materials for your September 14
<br />meeting does reference sample ordinances which allow for private docks to remain in
<br />place (pages 39-41in yourpacketofmateriais).. . .
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<br />, Ordinance #4 does not mention docks. It does state that no structure may be placed in an
<br />easement (Division 65). However, the definition of a "structure" as provided in Section .
<br />015-020 excludes certain items, such as "enclosed play structures under fifty(50) square
<br />feet, fences and patios." Whether or not, a dock would fall within the excluded items is
<br />ambiguous at best.
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