Council takes no action on compensation request
By KURT HAUGLIE, DMG WriterHANCOCK - The Hancock City Council decided Wednesday to take no action on a request by some residents for financial compensation for loss of property value due to construction of a house which blocks their view of the Portage Lake Shipping Canal.
At the September council meeting Justus and Kaisa Randolph, who live on Jasberg Street, presented their claim to council members that construction of a house on Birch Street violated zoning setback regulations and, when completed, it would block their view of the canal.
At the September meeting, the Randolphs were joined by neighbor Pasi Lautala, who also lives on Jasberg Street and claimed the house will block his view of the canal. Both claimed the loss of view will decrease the value of their houses.
During the meeting Wednesday, City Manager Glenn Anderson said if the council approved, he and the city attorney could meet with the property owners to discuss the issue. No council member made a motion to proceed that way, however, so no action was taken.
Councilman James Hainault said he thought about the issue quite a bit since the last council meeting, and he realized that kind of change happens often in many neighborhoods.
"I don't see where the taxpayers of the city of Hancock should pay the homeowners for what they think is a loss," he said. "I know there are dozens of property owners who could make that claim. The bottom line is if you want a view to the water, you have to have property on the water."
Mayor William Laitila said the property owners on Jasberg Street can take their claim to the next tax board of review in March. If they don't get satisfaction there, they can go to the state tax tribunal.
Hainault made a motion to have the city reject the Jasberg Street property owners' claim for damages, but there was no second so it died for lack of support.
On another subject, Hainault said he's heard from many residents who said they're disappointed in the change to SkyWest airlines, which flies from Houghton County Memorial Airport to Chicago, but not to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
People still want a way to get to the Minnesota destination, Hainault said. The council unanimously approved a motion to send a letter to Mesaba Airlines asking it to reinstate the flights to Minnesota.
In other business, council:
heard from Anderson the city transit had a record number of riders in October at 1,929.
heard from Anderson a $1 million Housing and Urban Development grant request to educate homeowners about the dangers of lead in the home was denied. No reason was given in the denial letter from HUD.
approved a $39,000 grant and $91,000 10-year loan from the U. S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for a front-end loader-mounted snowblower.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
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feather
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11-20-09 7:33 PM
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It is an issue of the construction of the house violating zoning setback regulations and the decrease of property values of the persons on Jasberg. It is one of the councilmen that gave approval for this home to be built when it was against zoning. He gave the approval anyway even though it was against the City of Hancock's law. It is the city that is costing taxpayer's money, for their lack of knowledge/ or care for their own laws.
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adventure
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11-20-09 12:42 PM
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Councilman James Hainault is correct, why should every citizen of Hancock have to pay the Randolphs money? If you don't own the property you can't control what happens on the property. That is a risk they took when buying their house, and unfortunately (for them), they lost the bet. Should I have to be compensated by my township if someone cuts the forest down behind my house to build a subdivision, even though I don't own the property? I don't think so
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BuddyBoy
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11-20-09 10:26 AM
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These folks need to be paid big money. The value of a canal view is priceless.
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jtlinna
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11-19-09 12:53 PM
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If you want canal front land you should buy it. Justus and Kaisa Randolph, and Pasi Lautala should pay there neighbors cuz there homes are in the way of other home owners in the area who cant see the canal.
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jtlinna
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11-19-09 12:47 PM
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I grew up on jasberg st. From my old house a can see all the homes in question. The home being built is on the old department of public works land. And what was in the spot this house is being built on?? A huge pile of sand and a ugly salt bin big enough to park a dump truck in. I didnt hear them complain about anything then. I wonder what there home value was then???
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favorite
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11-19-09 11:34 AM
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On another subject... those who want to reestablish Mesaba haven't checked the rates on flying through Chicago as a hub. They are a lot cheaper. Example: Hancock to Orlando is listed by United at $368, whereas I paid well over $500 a ticket last year.
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favorite
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11-19-09 11:29 AM
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I don't know if the homeowner should be compensated for property value loss, but I would like to know if in fact the construction violated zoning setback regulations. If this is true, what did the council do to address this. Why was this not addressed during the initial permit process. This may be where their underlying problem is.
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Abides
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11-19-09 11:06 AM
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read between the lines: "if you'd like to see our scenic canal, please (please, please, please) move into the Bridgeview condo development."
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