01-07-99 CCCITY OF OTSEGO
COUNTY OF WRIGHT
MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 1999 7:OOPM SPECIAL MEETING
ODEAN AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION INFORMATIONAL MEETING
1. MAYOR FOURNIER WILL CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Larry Fournier called the meeting to order at 7:OOPM.
Roll Call: City of Otsego: Larry Fournier, Mayor, and Councilmembers Vern
Heidner, Mark Berning, Suzanne Ackerman, and Virginia Wendel were present. City
Staff. Michael Robertson, City Administrator; Ron Wagner, City Engineer; and John
Harwood, City Engineer; were present.
PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED BITUMINOUS STREET RECONSTRUCTION
OF ODEAN AVENUE NE, OTSEGO, MINNESOTA
Mayor Fournier introduced the Councilmembers and staff. Mayor Fournier opened the
Public Hearing at 7:02 p.m., described the format of the meeting, and turned the meeting
over to City Administrator Robertson for the staff report. Robertson explained that the
City had received a grant of over $1.2 million dollars from the Federal government under
the ISTEA program, and that this information meeting was held as part of the
requirements of that program. Robertson noted that the City hoped to proceed with the
improvement of Odean Avenue this summer, but that the timetable was dependent upon
federal approval of the plans. Robertson introduced City Engineer Ron Wagner, who
gave a presentation on the proposed improvement.
Wagner indicated that Odean Avenue presently consisted of a two lane, 24 foot wide road
with 3 inches of blacktop upon a 3 inch base of gravel, with ditches and cross culverts for
drainage. The new road will be improved to an approximately 43 foot wide road with two
travel lanes plus paved shoulders. The road will have 4-1/2 inches of blacktop on top of a
7 inch gravel base, along with curb and gutter and an off road bike trail. Wagner noted
that at its intersection with 85th Street the road would be widened to four lanes each
direction. The four lanes would be a left turn lane, a through lane, a right turn lane, and
an opposite direction through lane. The intersection would be controlled by a four way
stop.
Wagner reviewed the social and environmental effects that may be caused by the
reconstruction of Odean Avenue. Each public and governmental agency contacted by the
City was mentioned, along with their responses. Issues covered were;
a) Section 4(1) Park & Recreational Property
- None within project area
b) Historical sites
- None within project area
Page 2 - Minutes of January 7, 1999 - 7:00 p.m. Special Meeting
C) Endangered Species
- No concerns
d) Prime and Unique Farmland
- None within project area
e) Wetlands
- Mitigating for unavoidably filled wetlands
f) Flood Plains
- No flood plains within project area
g) Hazardous Waste
- No known hazardous waste sites within project area
h) Air Quality
- No significant air quality impact
i) Construction Noise
- No unique noise receptors and no generation of unique or excessive noise
At the end of the City Engineer's presentation Mayor Fournier called a break in the formal
part of the meeting and those present reviewed the plans displayed around the room and
asked questions of the City Engineer's regarding conditions on their particular lots. After
approximately 30 minutes Mayor Fournier called the meeting back to order and asked for
questions from the audience. At this point there were approximately 16 people in
attendance. (Sign in list enclosed.)
Mark Nolden, 7771 Odean Avenue; stated that he liked the proposed reduced speed limit
and asked how it would be enforced. Administrator Robertson said it would be enforced
through increased patrols and noted that the City Council had increased its contracted
hours with the Wright County Sheriffs department for 1999 for speed limit enforcement.
Frank Miles, 8188 Odean Avenue; expressed concern about water from the wetland in his
front yard coming over his driveway. City Engineer Wagner said that the City would put
a culvert under his driveway to prevent that from happening.
Page 3 - Minutes of January 7, 1999 - 7:00 p.m. Special Meeting
Mr. Reichardt, 89th & Odean; was upset about losing his trees in his front yard. City
Engineer Harwood said that just because the easement included his trees did not mean that
they would automatically be removed. Harwood indicated that they did not want to
remove any more trees than they had to and they would make every effort to preserve his
trees.
Jerry Johnson, 7976 Odean Avenue; asked about the appraisal process for the City's
acquisition of right-of-way easements. Administrator Robertson explained the process.
Gary Inman, 7262 Odean Avenue; wanted field access road preserved; he also expressed
his dislike for the design of the intersection of Odean Avenue and County Road 37 and
asked if the intersection could be re -done. City Engineer Harwood said that the County
has indicated that it is not interested in changing the intersection. Harwood discussed the
history of how that intersection ended up the way it did.
Wayne Rude, 8357 Odell Avenue; thanked the Council for the information and said that
he was looking forward to the road being reconstructed because it had needed it for a
while.
Hearing no further questions, Councilmember Heidner, seconded by Councilmember
Berning, moved to close the public hearing at 8:32 p.m. Carried 5-0. Mayor Fournier
asked if there was any other Council business. There was none. Councilmember Berning,
seconded by Councilmember Wendel, moved to adjourn at 8:33 p.m. Carried 5-0.
CITY OF OTSEGO
RY F RSR MAYOR
ATTEST:
ELAINE BEATTY, CITY CLERK
ccminsp/mr