Memo Misc Special AssessmentsCity of Hopkins
Memorandum
Date.-- September 11, 1991
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: James Gessele, Engineering Superintendent
Subject Miscellaneous Special Assessments
The public hearing concerning 1991 miscellaneous special
assessments was continued to the September 11 meeting in
order for staff to review resident appeals. You will find
those appeals attached along with staff review and
recommendation.
Also attached is Exhibit A which makes up the assessment
roll and Resolution 91 -113 that calls for adoption of the
roll.
Exhibit A
1. Delinquent Invoice for Tree Removal
1418 Division Street
Listed as No. 1 on Exhibit A
Appeal Request:
The resident has requested reduction or cancellation of
the invoice for tree removal by reason he was not given
sufficient time to remove the tree himself. (See
attached appeal)
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends Council deny the appeal by reason that
City allowed more than usual time for resident to
comply with the removal ordinance. Normally Public
Works allows twenty to thirty days for compliance. In
this instance the tree was marked on August 10, 1990,
and eventually a certified notice was sent on February
26 1991. :There was no response from the resident and
by mid March the City authorized removal. The tree was
subsequently removed on April 3.
2. Delinquent Utility Bill
425 Madison Avenue North
Listed as No. 2 on Exhibit A'
Appeal Request:
The resident has requested cancellation of the utility
bill for trash.collection by reason that appellant does
not use the City's waste collection system. (See
attached appeal)
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends Council deny the appeal.
. :(See attached memorandum from John Schedler.)
ASSESSMENT HEARING APPEAL FORM
PROJECT NO.
Address of Assessed Bartel o'- c
What assessment does this concern
Property Identification Number:
1 -
7 Z-
Do you wish to address the City Council at the hearing?
( ) Ye s (� No
Please complete this form if you .intend to appeal to the
council to defer, revise or cancel your assessment. This
form must be completed and filed with the City Clerk no
later than the close of the City Council assessment hearing.
Your request will become part of the public hearing record.
I request that the City Council consider (check one)
a •t ) *Deferral of assessment (retired by virtue of
permanent disability)
b. { ) *Senior Citizen deferment (over 65 years of age)
c. t ) Cancellation of assessment
d. ( ) Revision of assessment
Reason for the request:
c,— C_
You will need to fill out a special form for deferral of
assessment and provide the city verification of your income
or disabil
(print name) (signature) (date)
address of property owner) telephone
t Z ip _���
From: Dale T. Vosika
To: City Council Clerk, City of Hopkins
Joubject: Appeal to Revise or Cancel Assessment
August 30,1991
I hereby submit written request to revise or cancel the assessment placed on me by the City for tree removal, based
on the following:
f
I had been notified by the city that the tree was diseased, and must be removed by a specific date or the city would
remove that tree and an assessment would be placed against my property.
Although I did not have the tree down by that date, I was finally able to schedule my time for this and decided that I
had better get it taken down and disposed of.
I was well into the process having downed the top 30' of the 50' tree, leaving in essence a stump 20' high and
approximately 8 " -10" in diameter, and wanted to remove the brush from the property before taking down the
stump.
It was at that point that I contacted the city to determine,what the proper disposal of diseased elm branches entailed.
I was told that I should come in and fill out a card and after that -the city would pick up the brush if I placed it by the
curb. He also asked for my address at that time.
Due to my work schedule I planned to fill out the card and move the brush to the curb after work the very next day,
but unfortunately upon arriving home. I discovered that the city had already been there and removed the brush
from my yard, and had taken down the stump as well. .
I immediately contacted the city to determine how much that removal would cost, and was told to call back at a
later date because they would not know the charges until receiving the bill from the. contractor. -
ter waiting the specified amount of time I called again and was told that the the bill was $245.00 and had already
been paid. I questioned why such a large amount when most of the work (and the most difficult part) had already
been done, and was told that I should contact the Contractor that did the work.
The Contnactor.told the that he had discounted the billing $50.00 for my part of the work and could not ad just it
any further, but indicated that he would do some additional `free" tree trimming on my property in lieu.
My point is simple. Although late,I was well into the process of removal, making sure that I was abiding by the
rules. The city sends out a contractor who can see the job is almost done, finishes the job anyway and charges 85%
of the price to remove the entire tree.
I feel that when I called the city about the brush removal, someone there alerted the contractor that I was doing the
work myself.
I feel that if the city hadn't told me to wait for the bill to come in and instead due to the circumstances assisted me
in talking to the contractor, the bill could have been much less considering that I had already completed 75% of the
work.
Please give this matter consideration, and either reduce the assessment or cancel it altogether.
If you have any questions or need any further information please feel free to contact me at work (941 -6401) or at
home (933 -6869)
hank You,
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