Special Assessment Commission - September 6, 2017 Minutes
Hearing Minutes
Special Assessment Commission Hearing
September 6, 2017
10:00 AM City Commission Chambers
Special Assessment Commissioners present: Chairman Dan Dunn, Steve Bladholm
Special Assessment Commissioners absent: Joe Burgum
City Staff present: Dan Eberhardt, Linda Stewart, Doug Durgin,
Steve Sprague, Tom Knakmuhs
Chairperson Dan Dunn called the hearing to order at 10:00 AM
Chairman Dunn introduced the Special Assessment Commissioners and City of Fargo staff members and he gave a brief description of the hearing procedures.
BN-16-F Water Main, Storm Sewer, PC Concrete Paving, Street Lights on 41st Street N
Curtis Goroski, representing John Deere Electronic Solutions at 4101 19 Ave N, does not agree with the assessment for 41st Street. He indicated that John Deere was unable to protest the project because the protests are based on area and John Deere did not have 51% area of the district to kill the project. He said that even though John Deere carries less than 50% of the district area, he feels that they unfairly being special assessed at 51% of the costs.
Special Assessment Coordinator, Dan Eberhardt, explained that half of the project costs were assessed to the West side and the other half was assessed to the East side. The only variable amount was driveways and sidewalk that are added costs.
The Special Assessment Commission recommended that Mr. Goroski’s concerns be forwarded as a protest to be heard at the City Commission Hearing on October 9, 2017.
BR-15-A Water Main Replacement, Street Reconstruction on 14th Av N
Pat Kotta, 40 14th Av N inquired about her special assessment. It was explained to her that she was assessed the footage of the small side of her lot which is on Oak Street. Her property will not be assessed when Oak Street N is reconstructed in the future. Ms. Kotta was satisfied with the explanation and will not be listed as a protest for BR-15-A.
BR-16-B Water Main Replacement, Force Main Construction, Street Reconstruction on Broadway
Kevin Olson of 2314 Broadway N, Ivan Sauvageau of 2314 Broadway N and Emmett Worth of 2414 Broadway N addressed the Special Assessment Commission with concerns of the Special Assessment being unfair. They indicated that properties on the West side of Broadway were being assessed much higher than properties on the East side.
Special Assessment Coordinator Dan Eberhardt explained that the residents on the East side do not have any frontage on Broadway. He said that the small side of these residential lots front on the Avenues and will be assessed accordingly when the Avenues are reconstructed in the same way that Broadway single family residents are being assessed. He said that the East side is being assessed as an indirect benefit to Broadway in accordance with the City of Fargo Infrastructure policy. Mr. Eberhardt did indicate that the City of Fargo is conducting an administrative review of the arterial portion of the infrastructure policy.
The Special Assessment Commission recommended that Mr. Olson, Mr. Savageau and Mr. Worth’s concerns be forwarded as a protest to be heard at the City Commission Hearing on October 9, 2017.
TN-16-E Traffic Signal on 40th Avenue S at 36th Street intersection
Virgil Schultz, 3325 45 Ave S addressed the Special Assessment Commission with concerns of the assessment for the Traffic Signals. He feels that there should be federal funding to help offset the costs of the improvement. Chairman Dunn explained that no federal funds are available for traffic signals within the City of Fargo. The assessment included about 1,800 parcels to share the cost of the signals.
The Special Assessment Commission recommended that Mr. Schultz’s concerns be forwarded as a protest to be heard at the City Commission Hearing on October 9, 2017.
There were no other protests for any other projects in the second Special Assessment run of 2017.
The hearing was adjourned at 11:15 AM.