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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, October 6,2014 <br /> Page 15 <br /> retaining wall, and necessary changes made to accommodate the property owner <br /> and the need to lower the roadway grade during the project due to MSA construc- <br /> tion requirements. <br /> Mayor Roe opened the Public Hearing at approximately 7:36 p.m. and reviewed <br /> the procedures; with City Manager Trudgeon again recognizing the two written <br /> objections received to-date as previously noted. <br /> Public Comment <br /> Brian Stenquist, 1022 County Road D West <br /> Mr. Stenquist read a portion of the written comments submitted in opposition to <br /> their assessment. <br /> N. Nancy Misra, 1022 County Road D West <br /> In addition to her husband's comments, Ms. Misra reviewed their attendance at all <br /> meetings held by the former City Engineer prior to construction including on-site <br /> visits, opining that they had been assured that the slope of their driveway would <br /> actually decrease and that the surface of the road had actually been higher prior to <br /> the project. However, Ms. Misra noted that the results were much different than <br /> promised, making it difficult in the winter to maneuver in the driveway and with <br /> snow removal. Ms. Misra advised that, prior to the project, they had contracted <br /> with a contractor to install a turnaround, but after completion of the driveway in <br /> November of 2013, their contractor informed them that due to the new slope of <br /> the driveway, it would not be feasible without considerable additional cost. Ms. <br /> Misra advised that this spring, City Engineer Culver had authorized modifications <br /> of their retaining wall, for which they were grateful, since the original retaining <br /> wall went to the end of and up their driveway, raising the area between 3' to 4' <br /> and in order to get snow up over the wall, they had to purchase a new snow blow- <br /> ers. Ms. Misra noted that this was not exclusive of their property, with adjacent <br /> neighbors having similar issues, including having a great deal of frustration dur- <br /> ing the project and having to park several blocks away for 2-3 months. Ms. Misra <br /> opined that this was a difficult process and she felt they hadn't ended up with a <br /> project with good results. Ms. Misra noted that their original concrete driveway <br /> had rebar, which was removed and not replaced with the new concrete; and stated <br /> that they had already seen it heaving after less than a year in place. Among other <br /> negative effects, Ms. Misra advised that the new project had not served to slow <br /> traffic down at all; and the new roadway was less than 3' from their mailbox and <br /> very dangerous. Ms. Misra also advised that all mailboxes were reinstalled at a <br /> lower level, which she anticipated would cause the City to hear from residents <br /> during the winter when they were covered over by snow plows. Ms. Misra opined <br /> that it would have been better for the City to have consulted with residents prior <br /> to reinstalling the mailboxes and replaced them as they were originally. Overall, <br /> Ms. Misra opined that with the excessive sloping portion of their driveway, the <br /> road had served to complicate their routine lives, especially over the winter. <br />