AGENDA #2

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and Town Council

FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT: Public Hearing on the Preliminary Assessment Roll for Sugarberry Road Improvements

DATE: February 28, 2000

On January 10 the Council called this public hearing to hear comments regarding the preliminary assessment roll for street improvements on Sugarberry Road. The project involved about 560 linear feet of roadway extending south from Houston Road as shown on the attached map.

The work consisted of paving the existing gravel road, including associated drainage work. Construction was completed in the Fall of 1999.

DISCUSSION

Upon completion of construction, State statutes provide that a preliminary assessment roll be prepared and that a public hearing on the preliminary assessment roll be held. Then, a final assessment roll can be confirmed by the Council and property owners are formally notified of their assessment and payment options.

We have attached a copy of the preliminary assessment roll for the petition area. The costs of improvements are prorated to each property owner with property frontage within the project limits on a equal share per lot basis as requested by the petitioners. The cost for each property owner is $1,255.00.

The assessment amount includes 50% of the actual, total project cost upon completion (excluding the cost of improvements at street intersections), which cost could include engineering, construction, legal services, any interest charges, right-of-way acquisition, and publication expenses. Only construction costs are being assessed on this project.

Owners of assessed property would have the option of paying the assessment in one cash payment within 30 (thirty) days after publication of confirmation of the final assessment roll, or in not more than 10 (ten) annual installments, the first of which would be due and payable concurrently with property taxes, with interest at an annual rate of 6%.

Notice of the public hearing was advertised in The Chapel Hill Newspaper and mailed to all property owners, as required by State statute. A copy of the certificate of mailing is attached.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council refer all comments to the Town Manager for consideration by the Council at their March 27, 2000 meeting, when confirmation of the assessment roll will be scheduled.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Preliminary Assessment Roll (page 3)

2. Map (page 4)

3. Certificate of Mailing (page 5)