MONROE - Aldermen Thurston Hanson, Ward 7, and Jan Lefevre, Ward 4, think charging homeowners for the cost of street construction along their properties is wrong, and voted no on the Monroe City Council's preliminary resolution for 2008 street construction last night.
The council voted 7-2, with Dan Henke absent, to pass a resolution to levy the special assessment and set a May 6 public hearing.
"I think assessing for public streets is wrong. It may be public policy, but I think it's wrong," Hanson said.
Sixteenth Avenue from Sixth to Eighth streets is scheduled for reconstruction this summer. The work includes installing storm and sanitary sewers mains, water and sewer laterals, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
The resolution states that the total amount assessed "shall not exceed 100 percent of the cost of the improvements."
However, according to Engineer Supervisor Al Gerber and City Administrator Mark Vahlsing, the city traditionally charges only about 20-25 percent of the costs to homeowners.
Sixteenth Avenue is in Hanson's ward.
Hanson said road work will cost $170,000, with $140,000 being for reconstruction and $30,000 for storm sewers.
Gerber said about $40,000 of the project will be assessed to 23 homeowners, for an average bill of between $1,050 and $3,000, due within 90 days after the city's bill arrives.
"I encourage homeowners to attend the April 22 meeting and the Council meeting the first week in May, and let my fellow aldermen know how unhappy they are about being assessed," Hanson said.
The policy of assessing needs to be changed, Hanson said. He said the cost of street construction should be coming out of the general fund, he said.
Other streets scheduled for reconstruction or seal coats are not assessable to residents. They are 18th Avenue (from First to Fourth Street), 16th Street (from 28th Avenue to County K), 25th Avenue (from 13th to 17th Street), and Eighth Street (from Wisconsin 69 to west city limits).
"I totally agree with Thurston," Lefevre said. "I feel that if you're not going to assess some streets, then you shouldn't assess anyone. It's discrimination, and you are punishing those who are assessed for living on that street."
Gerber and Vahlsing said work on streets considered main thoroughfares are traditionally not assessed to residents, but work on streets that are used mostly by residents of that street is assessed.
"Everyone uses the streets, like sidewalks," Lefevre said.
Hanson and Lefevre have been outspoken opponents of the city requiring property owners to have sidewalks and to pay for them.
The council voted 7-2, with Dan Henke absent, to pass a resolution to levy the special assessment and set a May 6 public hearing.
"I think assessing for public streets is wrong. It may be public policy, but I think it's wrong," Hanson said.
Sixteenth Avenue from Sixth to Eighth streets is scheduled for reconstruction this summer. The work includes installing storm and sanitary sewers mains, water and sewer laterals, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
The resolution states that the total amount assessed "shall not exceed 100 percent of the cost of the improvements."
However, according to Engineer Supervisor Al Gerber and City Administrator Mark Vahlsing, the city traditionally charges only about 20-25 percent of the costs to homeowners.
Sixteenth Avenue is in Hanson's ward.
Hanson said road work will cost $170,000, with $140,000 being for reconstruction and $30,000 for storm sewers.
Gerber said about $40,000 of the project will be assessed to 23 homeowners, for an average bill of between $1,050 and $3,000, due within 90 days after the city's bill arrives.
"I encourage homeowners to attend the April 22 meeting and the Council meeting the first week in May, and let my fellow aldermen know how unhappy they are about being assessed," Hanson said.
The policy of assessing needs to be changed, Hanson said. He said the cost of street construction should be coming out of the general fund, he said.
Other streets scheduled for reconstruction or seal coats are not assessable to residents. They are 18th Avenue (from First to Fourth Street), 16th Street (from 28th Avenue to County K), 25th Avenue (from 13th to 17th Street), and Eighth Street (from Wisconsin 69 to west city limits).
"I totally agree with Thurston," Lefevre said. "I feel that if you're not going to assess some streets, then you shouldn't assess anyone. It's discrimination, and you are punishing those who are assessed for living on that street."
Gerber and Vahlsing said work on streets considered main thoroughfares are traditionally not assessed to residents, but work on streets that are used mostly by residents of that street is assessed.
"Everyone uses the streets, like sidewalks," Lefevre said.
Hanson and Lefevre have been outspoken opponents of the city requiring property owners to have sidewalks and to pay for them.