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HomeMy Public PortalAbout04/06/71 CCM30 The council takes this position in the belief that: 1. It is morally wrong to force our citizens to move from theis-homes and farms for any but the most compelling reasons. Many wha have put a lifetime of work and hope into their present homsteads could not melocate except under crushing sacrifices. 2. No.pompelling need for the assumption of condemnation powers nor for removal of local consent has been shown. The Hennepin County Park Reserve DIlisI5ict has acquired approximately 14,000 acres of open space in Minnesota'sipopulous county, largely without condemnation. We are convinced that a Metropolitan Park Reserve Board can acquire sufficient desirable park land without condemnation and with cooperation from local goverment. The Hennepin County Park Reserve District's own policy statement of January 5, 1967, said, prophetically: "A11 lands acquired to date have been the result of direct negotiations It has been felt that the alternative process of condemnation is long, tedious, expensive, unaccommodating to individual circumatanees and very probably leads to very strained relationships and impairs the public goodwiillon which the success of the Commission's mission is based." The Park Reserve Commissioners said they would seek condemnation only "in extreme cases to clear title or where negotiations have reached an impasse." Instances can be cited in which the Park Reserve District offered landowners only 40 to 50 percent of market value for theirproperties. We believe that such appraisals cannot be termed to be bona fide negotiations. In addition, landowners taw wish to sell already have found that it is difficult to find a buyer other thah the Bark Reserve District simply because their property has been marked for park land. And the same park officials who claim that they need more land have tniced no objections to a Hennepin County highway plan to cut off approximately 100 acres of undev4loped land in Morris Baker County Park from the rest of the park area through construction of a new County Road 19. 3. The Hennepin County Park Reserve District has not demonstrated that it can care adequately for the land it already owns. We believe that District might allocate more of its resources toward such problems aspalution abatement, weed control and inadequate user facilities 4. Both Hennepin County and Metropolitan park plans work to remove not only a large portion of land from the tax rolls, but also a disproportionate amount of land that could be put to the very highest residential develo went. Park property used for residence and farming has been treated as tax=Nmept. Removal of these tax revenues may lessen a village's ability to serve other areas of the community with needed small, local parks. 5. The Hennepin County Park Reserve District's conception of park land acquisition and management may have been more relevant in an earlier day when land was cheap and taxes were low. The district has insisted on extending park lands to such "natural boundaries" as roads and highways, ignoring the hazar4s of automobiles and wildlife to each other. It seeks to separate public lands, apparently discounting the probability that wildlife can find additional habitat on adjoinint private acreage. Our experience has been that park officials have insisted on absolute owner- ship of large,rectangular blocks of land, often from people who do not wish to sell. They have failed to seek a working relationship with local government -- or even an exchange of information (neither the Hennepin County Park Reserve District nor the Metropolitan Park Board bothered to inform us of their proposed legislation). These policies have tended tp cut lark pfficials off from the citizens, land- owners and public officials who could most help them develop wider, more beneficial park programs through careful uses of such devices as scenic and wildlife easements, development rights, cooperative wetlands and soil management programs, tax indentives, building codes and subdivision regulations. We call upon the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, the Metroplitan Park Board and the Minnesota Legislature to seek a new spirit of cooperation, not through condemnation and an end to local consent, but with a realization that parks must co -exist with people in our metropolitan area. Seconded by Donald DesLauriers Motion carried. Moved by Robert Franklin to ingibe the executive of the Hennepin County Park Reserve District and at least of its board members to meet with the Village Council at a mutually convenient time, for the purpose of a discussion to include (but not limited to) recreation trails, park de*elopment, land acquisition, weed control, police protection, pollution abatement, tax exemption, park capacities and lake use -toning. Also requests that the District forward a current copy of its ordinances and a schedule of its meetings, and make provision to provide copies of new ordinances and Legislative proposals as they are adopted. Seconded by Donald Des Lauriers Motion carried. Moved by Donald Des Lauriers to endorse the resolutions of Richfield and Bloomington that the matter of the County Civic Center be referred to the people for their vote. Seconded by Arthur Theis Motion carried. Tom Gorman presented a plat for his property. Moved by Donald Des Lauriers to grant preliminary and final approval to the Gorman Addition plat to Tom Gorman subject to payment of a platting fee of $150.00. Seconded by Robert Franklin Motion carried. Munn Scherer/wwicnaregard to hunting on Holy Name Lake. He is to put up signs as most of the land is platted. Robert Staub, Marcus Schnell and Milford Dalchow appeared with regard to erect a car wash on Highway 55. Referred to Planning Commission. Duke Schneider appeared with regard to restrictions which are in force in the Medina-Morningside Development. 3 Moved by Donald Des Lauriers to accept the following schedule for salaries and equipment for road work: Men Regular labor start at $2.50 to $3.00 " " - with chauffeur ktcense 3.50 Full time 3.50 Road Supervisor 4.50 plus gas Weed inspector 4.00 plus mileage Equipment Motor grader f? o operator 6.00 Backhoe w/o " 7.50 Tractor a " 2.50 Tractor & mower " " 4.00 Snow Removal Motor grader w/o operator 8.00 F.Ix D. " " 8.00 Jeep and drag " " 3.50 Generator ft tt 3.50 Steamer ft ft 7.50 Drag .50 Seconded by Arthur Theis Motion carried. Moved by Donald Des Lauriersto advertise for bids for gravel, bituminolis and oil the same as last year and the bids to be opened on May 4, 1971 at 8:15 P. M. at the village Hall. Seconded by Arthur Theis Motion carried. Moved by Arthur Theis to make a payment of $25.•: to Russel Bouley to cover the fee for the building inspector school. Seconded by Robert Franklin Motion carried Moved by Donald Des Lauriers to grant a non -intoxicating malt beer license to St. Ann's Churchfor May 23, 1971 at no charge. Seconded by Arthur Theis Motion carried. Moved by Arthur Theis to pay the bills: payroll in the amount of 35,172.81 and order checks in the amount of $10,022.95. Seconded by Donald Des Lauriers Motion carried Moved by Donald Des Lauriers to instruct the Planning Commission to take a look at the Mobile Home Ordinance with regard to revision of lot size, set -batik lines and the side lot clearance. Seconded by Robert Franklin. Motion carried. Moved by Arthur Theis that the meeting adjourn. Seconded by Donald Des Lauriers Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 P. M. Attest: Clerk it