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CITY `OF LAKEVILLE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 21, 1977
Mayor Mako opened 'the Special"Councl>meeting at 7:45 P.M. in the Parkview
Elementary School Cafeteria. "
Roll call was- taken. Present:: Emond, Zaun,:Curry, Clarkson and Mako.
Also present:..-Patrick McGarvey, City Administrator/Clerk;` Patrick Bartell,.
City Attorney; James'Rotpinetze, Pubic Wsrks~irector; Mt, Ken Benson from
the Dakota Comity Electric Co
Mayor Ma:ko explained the p~etpose-of:ths Special Council meeting .was to con-
duct a hearing'on'the proposed stteet,~'light improvement in the Valley Park
Addition and then introduced the, people from the Council, staff and .Dakota
Electric present at the meeting.<
At ths,time, Mr. PatricT~ Farrell, City Attorney, ,attested to the legality
of the public :hearing
Mayor:Mako explained-the items: on the agenda and introduced'Mr. Robinette.
Mr. Robinette explained that the State Zegislature had passed legislation
requiring .gas-yard lamps to be turned off., and that by November 1 allyard
.lamps would have to be off. He also explained than citizens who had gas
yard lamps in"operation were paying $4.00 amonth charge and that. the cost
of electric lighting would be less.
At this time Mr. Ken Bensen of Dakota Electric presented a~map showing ,the
proposed locations of the 169 street lights. proposed for... the Valley Park
Additions. He also had a iight_fixture present which he presented'to the
citizens at the meeting and explained the proposed lighting would be the
lOQ watt high pressure sodium type-light fixture.. He also explained that
the :next: size fixture. would be a 150 watt high. pressure .sodium.
At.this time Patrick McGarvey explained he project estimated cost of $$5,525.
It was explained that the citizens:: could pay. the estimated assessment of
$68.62 for each'. of the 1,246 lots without-any interest f'they pay within
30 days 'from the assessment hearing. If they chose'to have'the assessment
placed on their taxes the assessment would be for two. years with 8,°6 interest
on the unpaid principal.
At this time Mayor Mako opened ':the hearing to questions from'the audience.
Mr. Fritz asked why the City was using high pressure sodium.
Mr. Benson explained that high pressure sodium is more efficient a far ;as
the use of electrical energy, provides more luminswithless. energy and has
a better efficiency :rating as the fixture nears its .life expectancy.
Mr. Benson also explained that. the. type of pole for the decorative fixture
could be .either wood or fibreglass and that he was recommending afibre-
glass pole.
A Mr. Brown stated .that he thought .the law requiring. gas lamps to be turned
off was not applicab a to Valley Park since it was the only type of street
lighting ..available in most areas.
'.Mr. Terry Dressen asked why the City paid for street .lights in the .3rd and
4th, Sth, and .6th and 8th Additions.
It was explained that. the City paid half. the costs o~ some of the lights in,
these Additions when it appeared the developer was `not.. providing :any light
ing. The :.developer was to pay `Dakota: Electric-the other. half which he never
did.
It was also explained that the~City. n this>street light proposal, would be
having Dakota electric change the light 'fixture on-the 39 decorative poles
already in'Valley Park .from the mercury vapor to the high pressure sodium
fixtures.
Mr. Don Fannum asked w~iesther~or not the City'wouldtake bids. on this project,:.
why does it cos~~ approxi~tate y,.$550'~er-light?
Pat Farrell stated that he is still looking into the question'of whether or`
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CITY OF LA~EVILLE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 21° 1977
not the Citp will have to take bids on the project, but that it appeared the
City wouldhave:::to.
Mr. McGarvey stated that the cost of $550 per light corers all of the costs
of the project including easements, legal, administrative, capitalized n-
terest,-,and natural: costs of labor and materials for the street lighting
.system.
Another citizen asked whether or not Dakota Electric has sufficient electric
power to light the additional lights.
Mr. Benson answered hat the addition of new sub-stations in the-area that
they now have sufficient power,
Mr. Dave Weistaff asked how deep the wire would:bebured under the ground.
Mr. Benson.e~plained that a trenching machine cuts a narrow trench along the
property line.. and. that .the vertical wire`is approximately, wo feet deep.
Another citizen asked the: Mayor whether or not there would be a referendum
on the project.: Mayor Mako explained that the project does not require a
referendum.
Mr. John Jojade asked why he has to pay twice 'for street lighting since he
already has street lighting in the area ..where: he lives. It was explained
that the fixtures in his area are being changed under his .proposal, and
that the s reet lighting he paid for would have been though'his developer
who did not ever pay Dakota Electric for 'any of the street lighting. It'is
not.known'whether the developer actually charged for the street lighting.,
to the-home buyers.
Mr. Pat Farrell explained that the citizens could .submit a petition to the
Council at any time stating their feelings on this 'proposed improvement,
as with any improvement,.. but that there was not arequirement.-under State
law for a, referendum, nor-could there be one._
Mr. Pat Faskaasked about the trenching."and how much it would disturb the
property. Mr. Robinette explained that he and Mr. Benson had: walked almost
all:: of the-locations picked for the street lights and that there were not
any big obstacles along these. :common yards and lot lines After the cable
was trenched in the dirt would be placed back in the trench.
'Mr. Benson explained that the rench is only two to three inches in width.
Another ci izen asked- how the-169 light figure was arr ved at.
`'Mr, Benson explained that the system. was laid-:out .taking. into. account ex-
isting lights,,existng easements,, spacing, and then the spacing was sub-
mitted to General Electric for analysis by a computer. He explained that
the system was neither underlie+nor was it considered. excessive.
Another citizen 'questioned if there .were alternate street light plans..
Mr. Benson explained, that "the ,other system tPte-company installs is the
overhead system 'on the standard utility pole. These fixtures would also
be I00 watt high prfasure sodium mounted on an arm from the overhead pole
served by-an overhead distributon:syst~m. The company would charge the
City a higher cost per month for each fixture which 'the City would pay for-
ever..
Mr. Benson also explained than the Dakota Electric has a round globe-like
:fixture for .the top of t:he decorative poles but that it attracts more
vandalism than the colonial style now in Valley Park and proposed.
At this time the Mayor asked if any 'of the Councilmembers had questions
for the s aff.
Marianne Curryasked'how many 'lumi.ns`present°gas lamps give off..
Mr. Benson. explained that most. of hem compare to .approximately a`30 watt
night bulb:.
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CITY OF LAKEVILLE:SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 21, 1977
She also .asked Pat Farrell if the City has any egal authority to force the
people to keep :their-yard' amps operational 'with electricity. Mr. Farrell
explained that the City has no legal authority to .require them to be main
wined with electricity.
Mr. Benson explained 'that the .project could be done by November if it could
get started in August.
77.387 At this time there was•{a motion by ;Curry, seconded by Zaun that the hearing
be continued to allow a survey to be taken to find out how many plan to con-
verytheir gas lamps. .There was discussion on the motion.
`Mr. Zaun said had'` ~'eels< them should .~b~ some alternatives considered.
He also stateai.,;that, the, City ,needs a policy discussion on the question of
the City paying.fo"r energy: and maintanaace~bof street lighting.
Mr. Clarkson said he .felt that a public hearing gives the people their chance
'to have a 'ica in im rbv~ement ro j ects .
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Mr. Emond`said;,`he favored ;continuing the public hearing but not to'take a sur-
va~y
Mr. Mako stated he also fsnored continuing the hearing but not to take he
survey.
Roll call was'taken;on -t'he motion'. Ayes,.. Zaun and Curry. Nays, Mako,...Clark-
son and Emond.
77.388 Motion was madeby'Emond, seconded by Zaun to continue the hearing. to August 1,
1977 at 9x00 P.M. at the Council Cha~.mber:
Roll-call was taken-on the mo ion. Ayes, Mako, Emond, Clarkson and Zaun. Nays,
Curry...
77.389 Motion was mada~ by Emond and seconded by Mako to adjourn the: Council meeting..
Ro1Z call was taken a3n the motion.. Ayes, Zaun, Curry, Mako, Emond and C~.arkson.
Times 10:10 P.M.
Resp f lly bmtted,>
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Patrick: E. McGarvey,,City C
Edward J.'Mako, yor
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