04 - Highway 371 Road Turnbacks - Laserfiche WebLink

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CROWWING COUNTY L. - MINNESOTA April 14, 2015 Mr.David Sjoblad Mayor,City of Pequot Lakes 4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes,MN 56472` RE: Crow Wing County Response to Letter Dated March 25, 2015 Dear Mayor Sjoblad, I acknowledge receipt of your recent letter regarding the roadway turn backs associated with the expansion of the Trunk Highway(TH) 371 and the Pequot Lakes bypass. I want to first thank you and the City Council for agreeing to honor the commitment made to Crow Wing County regarding the turn back of County.Road 112. I believe this to be an • excellent example of the collaboration that has occurred to this point. I am, however, ' disappointed with the City's current position regarding cost-sharing for the interchange and " the turn back of the other roads. A lot of good faith negotiations have taken place over the last several years;the current City proposal appears to diverge from these efforts. With regard to the future interchange,Crow Wing County is unwilling to accept any proposal • suggesting that the City has no financial obligation associated with this facility. I do not support an explicit disregard the County's established cost participation policy. Doing so would threaten the integrity of a policy the County has worked hard to equitably apply to other townships and municipalities.Cost sharing for interchanges has been part of this policy. since 2008. In recent years, Crow Wing County has led the charge to keep the TH 371 project relevant and on track.Likewise,the County has advocated strongly on behalf of Pequot Lakes for the installation of a safety enhancing interchange rather than a signalized intersection.The City's concept of disassociating itself from the interchange is-difficult to accept now that it has been officially been included in the project. It's equally difficult to accept considering the bypass option was a City decision. With regard to the turn back segments,the County requests the City to follow through with the good faith effort and negotiations that have taken place up until this point. By actively Our Vision: Being Minnesota's favorite place. . Our Mission:Serve well. Deliver value. Drive results. Our Values: Be responsible.Treat people right. Build a better future.