09.01 Wildlife Trail - Laserfiche WebLink

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' Background• The residents on Wildlife Trail Petitioned the City of Pequot Lakes on 10 Ju12017 with a 31 page request to have the City provide ongoing maintenance and snow plowing on Wildlife Trail. The petition was signed by 19 property owners on Wildlife Trail. The City's response was that Wildlife Trail was considered a private road, and therefore not the responsibility of the City, even though: 1) It meets the same construction requirements as North Sluetter Road,which is maintained by the City 2) It meets the definition of a city street and/or roadway by providing access to 8 permanent residences and 2 seasonal residences. 3) It meets the former Sibley Township requirement of having at least 4 residences and a class 5 roadbed. 4) The residents of Wildlife Trail pay more per road foot in city taxes,than those on North Sluetter Road for an equivalent road distance T'he City code and policies do not define a private road and do not cover the adoption of a road, but we were told that the city does have the authority, at its discretion,to adopt or to not adopt a road providing access to properties. We asked the City about the process for road adoption back in Jan 2015, based on a rural road standard that had not yet been established, even though at the time we met the old Sibley township requirements. Subsequently,the City of Pequot Lakes passed a resolution stating the requirements for a city street included paving. The cost to pave Wildlife Trail was estimated to be $194,000, which divided by 10 residences amounts to $19,400 per residence. Over a 20 year taxation period,this would be a$970 per year assessment. This is not a realistic amount for a 20 year tax increase and the residents chose to keep the gravel road surface. 66 percent of maintained roads in Minnesota are gravel and traffic levels on these roads as well as on Wildlife Trail do not warrant a paved surface due to cost considerations over the long term. Action Request• We,the residents of Wildlife Trail request the City to reconsider one the following options: 1) Adopt Wildlife Trail as a city street under a class 5 county road construction requirement modified to an 18 foot width similar to North Sluetter Road 2) Provide funds back from the City Ta�ces in a proportionate amount spent on current city � roadways for the Wildlife Trail residents to form an association and maintain the road via the association , 3) Provide at least minimum snow plowing requirements under Minnesota Sta.tute MN Sta.tute 160.21, which allows for City plowing without adoption or other maintenance requirements. (See atta.ched statute.) Copies of the original petition request from 10 July 2017 have been provide to the City Council for review and consideration. '