09/07/76 Board of Public Works Minutes

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405 REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 7, 1976 A regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was convened at 9:30 a.m, on Tuesday, September 7, 1976 by President Rollin Farrand with Mr. Farrand and Mr. Mullen present. Deputy City Attorney Georgia Luks was also present. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING APPROVED Mr. Farrand noted that the minutes of the August 30 meeting had been reviewed and he made a motion that the minutes be approved as submitted. Mr. Mullen seconded the motion.and it carried. Mr. Farrand said a special meeting was called on Thursday, September 2 to approve a Block Party request which came in after the Board meeting. He reviewed the minutes of .the special meeting and made a motion that they be approved as submitted. Mr. Mullen seconded the motion and.it carried. PUBLIC HEARING ON ASSESS14ENT ROLL - HOMELAND SANITARY SEWERS This being the date set, hearing was held on the Assessment Roll for the Homeland Addition No. 2 Sanitary Sewers, authorized under Improvement Resolution No. .3415. The Clerk tendered proofs of publication of notice in the South Bend Tribune and the Tri-County News which were found to be sufficient. Mr. Farrand noted that the purpose of this hearing was to hear any property owners who might wish to discuss the amount of their assessment with the Board. He noted that the City of South Bend is paying one-half the cost of the sewer construction. He said the Board would now hear any property owners present who wished to speak. Mr. George Radman, 2413 Prairie Avenue, said he did not receive any notice of the hearing held before the sewers were constructed. He said he owns three lots which are assessed on this assessment roll and said the lots are idle land which will probably never be used as building.lots. He said the assessments are entirely.too high for such land. He then inquired about the rate charged per foot for the sewer construction. Mr. Farrand said the charge is about $7.00 per foot for.sewer construction. He said such a project is put out for competitive bids and the Board is bound by the bid price which is the actual construction cost. Mr. Daniel Radman also spoke to the Board about the three lots owned by George Radman and said he feels the assessment of $300 per lot is too high. Mr. Farrand said the Indiana State Statutes provide for the manner in which property is assessed under Barrett Law construction and the Board has no option in the matter. Mr. George Radman-said that taps were installed for the lots and he is. assessed for the taps. He said there is no need for the taps and he was not consulted before they were installed. David A. Wells, Manager of the Bureau of Public Construction, said the Contractor and the Engineering Department attempted to contact each property owner in regard to placement of the taps. Mr. Farrand then noted that notices were mailed to Mr. Radman in regard to the public hearing before the project was authorized in June of 1975, as well as the notice of the assessment roll hearing. Those notices were not returned by the Post Office and the Board assumes they were delivered. Mr. Radman said his house number was changed to a four - digit number after the area was annexed..He said -for some time the Post Office was delivering mail addressed to the five -digit address but it now goes to the dead letter office. Per. Radman asked the ,Board what recourse he now has. Mr. Farrand said Mr. Radman could have his lots appraised and if the appraisal indicates the value of the lots is less than the improvement, the Board can review the assessment. Mr. Radman asked who could make such appraisals. Mr. Farrand said. there is no one on the City Engineer's staff who could appraise the property. Mr. Radman asked who appraises City -owned real estate which is sold and was ,advised that the City hires independent real estate appraisers. Mr. Radman then asked how long he would .have to get this appraisal information. He was advised that he should submit any additional information regarding the lots and any appraisals to the Board office within two weeks for further consideration. Mr. Donald