Crowd Contests Street Project Costs

Subscribe to our online issues of The Herald-Press The www.heraldpressnd.com Vol. 33 Issue 15 75¢ Saturday, April 15, 2017 Herald-Press - Official Newspaper of Wells County - Harvey and Fessenden, North Dakota- at www. heraldpressnd.com Crowd contests street project costs Supreme Court by Anne Ehni Two hundred and fifty-three reverses decision people crowded in the Harvey City Hall Thursday, April 6, at a in Wells case public meeting of the City Coun- by Anne Ehni cil. The meeting was called to dis- The N.D. Supreme Court re- cuss a proposed repaving project viewed an appeal filed by Wells of the Harvey streets. County State’s Attorney Kathleen Mayor Ann Adams opened Murray and reversed a 2015 deci- the meeting with the clarification sion of Honorable Southeast Ju- that unruly behavior would not dicial District Court Judge James be tolerated. Referring to herself, Hovey. the council members and the staff, The case involved two adults, she said, “Over the last few days Matthew and Caren Ashby, who we’ve all been abused by people were reportedly using drugs and we’re not going to tolerate it heavily in the company of two tonight.” Two police officers were minor children. in attendance to escort out any at- Hovey had suppressed evi- tendees who were disruptive. dence obtained in a traffic stop “This is an informational meet- by Carrington’s North Dakota ing to tell you what our options Highway Patrol Trooper Evan are,” said Adams. “A protest hear- Savageau. Hovey concluded that ing will be held Wednesday, April Many attended an April 6 public meeting to hear about the proposed street project in Harvey. Savageau did not have reasonable 19, 5:30 p.m., at City Hall. “At suspicion to initiate the traffic that time, the city will review the funds is two percent. Repayment on at 15-year repayment plan. phrase was quickly followed by nity wants. The main thing is, do stop. protests received and determine if of the loan would be secured from Oye continue by describing concerns about the cost. Particular you need to repair the roads and On August 26, 2015, an all- there is sufficient protest to bar the special assessments on the prop- some things not to do. “First,” issues addressed included con- how much can you afford. Please points bulletin (BOLO) was issued project from moving forward,” erty owners based on street-front he said, “don’t expect public cern for limited income families, remember, we’re here to find out for a welfare check of Ashby’s two she said. “It’s up to you if we do footage . works to maintain streets within young families and senior citizens from you what you want. That’s minor children. this project or not.” If the project is approved, a spe- their budget. There hasn’t been a on a fixed income. Additional what our interest is and that’s Savageau spotted a vehicle that Brandon Oye of Moore Engi- cial assessment commission will big capital improvement project comments regarded assessments what the interest of the city coun- met the description of Ashby’s neering presented the scope of the be formed. It will be their duty to on the streets for more than 40 for owners of multiple properties, cil is. This project, doesn’t have to vehicle on Hwy 52/200. He fol- project, “If approved, the project decide how special assessments years. Constant patching adds corner lots and business owners be a $10.3 million project. We’re lowed the vehicle to Sykeston will begin in 2017,” Oye said. will be calculated. Ultimately, all up, a lot.” in the industrial park. Still further here to help you.” until the vehicle pulled off the Construction would be completed property owners will be assessed He explained that if the city discussion addressed the negative “If you write a protest letter, it road at the Sykeston rest area. in 2018, and in 2019 all city streets to help share the cost. Oye reiterat- chooses not to repair the streets, impact the special assessment would be helpful if you explain Savageau determined that will be crack and chip sealed. ed, “The assessment commission they will continue to get worse. could have on the potential for what you don’t like and what the vehicle, male and female oc- Oye said the engineer’s opinion would determine that the specials The scope to get them fixed will new business development and you would like to see done, in- cupants, and two small children of probable cost is $10.3 million. are as equitable as possible. It will get bigger. “Project costs, in gen- expansion. stead. The council needs to make matched information on the “None of this has been set in be a long process,” he said. eral, don’t become less,” he said. One property owner said, a decision on your behalf,” Oye BOLO. stone,” he said. “Your council “There is 95,336 (street) front An air of contention was clear “What I foresee is a lot of senior concluded. Savageau spoke with Stutsman has to determine what to do with footage in the city,” Oye said. as questions came from the crowd. citizens who will want to sell their Letters of protest have to be in County Social Services, Jame- your streets - a very important “Divide that into $10.3 million A few spontaneous comments properties. You have to consider the office of the Harvey City Coun- stown Police Officer Dale Ack- part of your infrastructure. Ninety and you get $108.04 per front were shouted from the back of the what’s going to happen in the long cil by April 18. Each letter must land, and obtained information percent of the streets in Harvey foot. Ultimately everybody has room. At one point a man’s voice run here,” she said. “I don’t see it contain the following informa- from Stutsman and Ward County are about 42 years old. Asphalt to pay a fair share of the project,” shouted, “It IS a tax!” interrupting being good.” tion: the address of property and Social Services and the Ward pavements are designed to last he added. Mayor Adams as she attempted Luke Arnold, lead engineer for the printed names and signatures County Narcotics Task Force. 20-25 years. Good maintenance Oye suggested some rough to explain special assessments Moore Engineering, addressed of all owners. “If a husband and All of the information revealed is credited for extended life span estimates of the monthly cost. “A versus property tax. the crowd. “The first question is, wife both own the property, both that there were investigations of of the streets.” 50-foot lot would be about $39 Otherwise, patrons approached do the roads need to be done. The have to sign the letter,” Adams ex- the Ashbys and that they were Oye said there are low interest per month, a 75-foot lot would the microphone, as requested. An second question is, how much can plained. The parcel identification “known drug users and abus- loans for infrastructure through be about $59 per foot, and a 100- often repeated comment was “Ev- we afford. I’d be more than happy number would also be helpful in ers." the Bank of North Dakota. Cur- foot lot would run about $78 per eryone in this room agrees that to try to craft a solution within a processing the protests. Ackland reported that he had rently the lending rate for these month.” These estimates are based we need our streets done.” This budget if that’s what the commu- been in “personal contact with Caren’s grandmother who was supposed to be watching the kids that day and Matthew and Caren Ashby had showed up and had taken the kids, and that Caren’s Beuchler Oil now named Kotaco grandmother stated Caren was high on heroin.” by Sue Sitter office manager Jennifer Ammon, company, Ammon said. Trooper Savageau followed The Harvey fuel and propane services available will remain Kotaco will also change sig- the vehicle until it pulled into supplier at the eastern junction the same and the sales and store nage during the next year. the Farmers Union Oil station in of N.D. Highway 3 and US 52 staff, all of whom have worked at Ammon indicated Konschak Fessenden. Shortly thereafter, the changed its name to Kotaco Fuel the location since it was owned Oil in Goodrich will also become trooper initiated the traffic stop. and Propane as of March 1. by Barry Buechler, will remain a Kotaco store. Ultimately, Matthew Ashby, the According to a statement by as well. Harvey Kotaco manager Fran- passenger, volunteered there was Justin Moline of Buechler Oil and “We have changed a few dif- cis Grossman told the Herald- a marijuana pipe in the car. The its parent company, Nichelson ferent ways we do things as far Press, “The change is going to be officer searched the vehicle, found Oil, the stores combined under as delivering propane and fuel oil. very positive.” more contraband and arrested the one name. We do a cash discount now. But “We’ll still have really good occupants. Moline wrote, “We’re proud as far as our customer service, ev- quality service” Grossman said. On April 1, 2016, the district to be a North Dakota company, erything’s the same,” she added. court issued an order granting and that’s where our new name Customers will most notice the Kotaco employees, from left: the motion of Caren Ashby to comes from.” name change on their fuel bills Francis Grossman, Lori South- suppress the evidence seized.

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