Should a petition to pave a gravel road go through without the consent of all those who will have to pay for the blacktop?
That was one of the considerations before the Crow Wing County Board Tuesday. Board members conducted a public hearing to consider the petition to pave Cadwell Avenue, off St. Columbo Road.
Those in favor spoke of battling a flour-like dust on their cars and in their homes and of improving the neighborhood. Those against spoke of being assessed dollars they could ill afford for a project they didn't want and of losing the neighborhood's rural character. The county's highway department said two or three residents out of 12 were against paving the road. The county has a policy that 100 percent of the people living on the road must agree for the project to go forward.
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Crow Wing County commissioners received a letter commending the work of Auditor Deborah Erickson, particularly for a presentation, which covered information on growth, lake associations and taxes, before the Fifty Lakes Property Owners Association.
Board Chairwoman Rachel Reabe Nystrom thanked Erickson and noted the county has yet to receive any such letters on newly arrived Administrator Tim Houle.
"My mother hasn't written yet," Houle said. - Renee Richardson.
Commissioner Rosemary Franzen said she doesn't believe in the 100 percent rule but thought the county should consider paving all the roads in the residential area at the same time. Other lots in the neighborhood have not yet been developed. Commissioner Dewey Tautges said recently it's almost impossible to get 100 percent agreement. Commissioner Paul Thiede said he was concerned with taxing people out of their homes. He said there are chemical controls that could be used to take care of the dust.
Highway Engineer Lyndon Robjent said the cost, estimated to be $45,000 for the project, is high and it may be wise to wait to get another bid in the winter or spring. Residents could have been assessed for the cost based on a three-year payback at an annual interest rate of 8 percent. Robjent said the board could decide on the type of assessment for the project, be it by owner or linear foot, and go out for bids again later.
The board voted to deny the petition. Thiede said with the cost, it is better to wait and look at the overall neighborhood as it continues to develop.
In other business, the board:
Approved a plan to move Emergency Management under the direction of the sheriff's department. John Bowen, Emergency Management director, will move his office from the historic courthouse to the nearby Law Enforcement Center while the Emergency Management operation's center will remain in the historic courthouse's lower level. Bowen said the cost to move the center was prohibitive. Sheriff's Capt. Neal Gaalswyk said the move is designed to enhance public safety with potential cost savings.
Heard plans are to continue with South Country health alliance for another three months and re-evaluate the situation at that time to see if a positive cash flow is feasible.
Met in closed session for a performance evaluation of Tami Laska, human resources director. Laska received a satisfactory review. The board reports reviews as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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