MONROE - Work to reconstruct a northern portion of 16th Avenue was finished this fall, and now so are the assessments for that work the city was going to charge to property owners.
The City of Monroe Common Council unanimously passed a resolution canceling special assessments for the project Tuesday.
Several residents of 16th Avenue spoke at a public hearing prior to the vote.
David Zweifel, Melanie Zweifel, Mark Bartosik and Teresa Page reiterated several reasons made May 6 for the city to reverse its decision to assess their properties for part of the city's cost for street reconstruction.
Noting that his home was built in 1885, David Zweifel said the 600 and 700 block of 16th Avenue is part of "a very old neighborhood, which have been paying taxes for a lot of years."
Zweifel said his tax assessment for the street work of almost $1,600 would have been equal to a year's worth of property taxes. He also told aldermen that the street's high traffic count reduces his property value.
"It's more of a liability than an asset to live on that street," he said.
Bartosik said he was "in the same boat" as Zweifel. His assessment would have been more than $1,800.
"It's a busy street," he said. "Big trucks and semis come up through there."
Page reminded council members of their promise during the May 6 meeting to cancel the assessments for the project.
"You ended that meeting with the words, 'Trust us,' and we did trust you, even while dealing with the construction," she said.
Page said residents had no opportunity to plan for the assessments in their personal budgets. Page's assessment would have been more than $1,300.
"Remember, you said 'Trust us," she said.
Melanie Zweifel went one step further than her neighbors, saying people living on cul de sacs should not be assessed, as well as those on a busy street.
"I disagree with assessments, period," she said.
"You turned to us and said, 'Trust us.' I'd like to see you keep your word," she said.
Alderman Jan Lefevre agreed with the residents, stating that streets are part of the city's infrastructure, for which everybody should share the costs. She said she would like to see the city "totally abolish" assessments.
Alderman Mark Coplien said the council decision in May to halt the assessments was "a very intelligent decision."
Coplien is the alderman whom residents remembered turning around during the May council meeting and saying, "Trust us."
"The streets, curbs and gutters should be dealt with by the city and not assessed," he said.
"That means moving money around with the streets, and that's a tough one," he said, referring to the city's tightening budget.
Coplien is a member of the city's Finance and Taxation Committee.
Alderman Charles Koch, also on that committee, said the entire 16th Avenue project cost $356,000, and that the assessments amounted to less than $30,000.
"That's not a whole lot," he said.
Alderman Dan Henke said the council would do what it said it would do, and pointed out that business traffic, which at one time was routed down 16th Avenue to the Square, since has been rerouted to 20th Avenue.
Henke and Coplien said some time would be needed before drivers learned the change in the route. But residents said some enforcement would be needed, as well.
Alderman Paul Hannes agreed with the cancellation of the assessments, but asked Mayor Ron Marsh if it would become a "general practice in coming years" for the city.
"It's going to be a hard sell from the public from now on," Hannes said.
Marsh indicated "something would be coming down" to replace assessments.
Marsh had introduced the idea of creating a utility for the street work during meetings with council members this spring when they were trying to figure out how to replace assessment funds.
"Some entities doubt the trust of this council and they really don't need to. We do what we promise to do," Marsh said during closing remarks.
The City of Monroe Common Council unanimously passed a resolution canceling special assessments for the project Tuesday.
Several residents of 16th Avenue spoke at a public hearing prior to the vote.
David Zweifel, Melanie Zweifel, Mark Bartosik and Teresa Page reiterated several reasons made May 6 for the city to reverse its decision to assess their properties for part of the city's cost for street reconstruction.
Noting that his home was built in 1885, David Zweifel said the 600 and 700 block of 16th Avenue is part of "a very old neighborhood, which have been paying taxes for a lot of years."
Zweifel said his tax assessment for the street work of almost $1,600 would have been equal to a year's worth of property taxes. He also told aldermen that the street's high traffic count reduces his property value.
"It's more of a liability than an asset to live on that street," he said.
Bartosik said he was "in the same boat" as Zweifel. His assessment would have been more than $1,800.
"It's a busy street," he said. "Big trucks and semis come up through there."
Page reminded council members of their promise during the May 6 meeting to cancel the assessments for the project.
"You ended that meeting with the words, 'Trust us,' and we did trust you, even while dealing with the construction," she said.
Page said residents had no opportunity to plan for the assessments in their personal budgets. Page's assessment would have been more than $1,300.
"Remember, you said 'Trust us," she said.
Melanie Zweifel went one step further than her neighbors, saying people living on cul de sacs should not be assessed, as well as those on a busy street.
"I disagree with assessments, period," she said.
"You turned to us and said, 'Trust us.' I'd like to see you keep your word," she said.
Alderman Jan Lefevre agreed with the residents, stating that streets are part of the city's infrastructure, for which everybody should share the costs. She said she would like to see the city "totally abolish" assessments.
Alderman Mark Coplien said the council decision in May to halt the assessments was "a very intelligent decision."
Coplien is the alderman whom residents remembered turning around during the May council meeting and saying, "Trust us."
"The streets, curbs and gutters should be dealt with by the city and not assessed," he said.
"That means moving money around with the streets, and that's a tough one," he said, referring to the city's tightening budget.
Coplien is a member of the city's Finance and Taxation Committee.
Alderman Charles Koch, also on that committee, said the entire 16th Avenue project cost $356,000, and that the assessments amounted to less than $30,000.
"That's not a whole lot," he said.
Alderman Dan Henke said the council would do what it said it would do, and pointed out that business traffic, which at one time was routed down 16th Avenue to the Square, since has been rerouted to 20th Avenue.
Henke and Coplien said some time would be needed before drivers learned the change in the route. But residents said some enforcement would be needed, as well.
Alderman Paul Hannes agreed with the cancellation of the assessments, but asked Mayor Ron Marsh if it would become a "general practice in coming years" for the city.
"It's going to be a hard sell from the public from now on," Hannes said.
Marsh indicated "something would be coming down" to replace assessments.
Marsh had introduced the idea of creating a utility for the street work during meetings with council members this spring when they were trying to figure out how to replace assessment funds.
"Some entities doubt the trust of this council and they really don't need to. We do what we promise to do," Marsh said during closing remarks.