Ham Lake City Council Candidates Embracing Rural Character or City Utilities? Better Find Out Before Voting!

Four options on the ticket, two seats up for grabs, do you know enough about the candidates to make an educated decision on whom to vote for next Tuesday? To be honest with you, I did not until this past Saturday. A copy of Lakes and Loons arrived in our mailbox this week with information regarding our four choices. I know quite a bit about the incumbent, council member, Gary Kirkeide. He has never waivered in his dedication to maintaining the rural character in Ham Lake and keeping our taxes low while continuing to provide excellent services. It was a pleasure to have information on Tom Johnson published so that I knew more about him than previously. He outlined many of his policies in the paper. I personally like that he also wants to preserve our rural character.

I found out less about the other two candidates, Farrell Touhy and Tom Paulson. They chose not to answer the survey that was published in Lakes and Loons as the other two candidates had. This bothers me a bit as candidates in at any level of government should participate in all forums and types of media. How can we make a decision?

I decided to check online for additional information on the other two candidates and was pleased to find that all four candidates chose to participate in the ABC Newspaper Voter Guide questionnaire. I read through all of four candidates’ answers and I am now better informed but I still have questions and concerns about Ham Lake.

It seems that there is a feeling by one of the candidates that there is dissention among the current council and that our community is unwilling to work together with each other and surrounding communities. Mr. Touhy states that we need to “partner with neighboring cities”. When did Ham Lake not partner with neighboring cities? Is this about East Bethel, the Met Council and city sewer and water again?

In reading Mr. Paulson’s answer to the city utilities question, I became more concerned and fear that we have not seen the last of the city sewer, water and dense housing proposals in Ham Lake. He states that the approved comprehensive plan was “a good start and our plan should be amended to address these issues”. What issues? Our city council listened to its constituents earlier this year and voted 4-1 to approve a comprehensive plan that embraced our rural character, kept a 1 acre minimum lot requirement and opted to only use batch septic paid for by end users in the commercial areas. A 4-1 vote doesn’t sound like dissention. It sounds like a council that listened to the residents rather than the mayor.

Several things that affect our community and our pocketbooks could be readdressed in the coming year. One of the big concerns that I note is the “push by members of the Ham Lake Charter Commission to remove a rule in our city charter requiring a citizen vote on the issue of bonds for spending over $1 million”. If this rule is removed, the council would in essence be given a blank check to spend millions without citizen approval. Candidates Kirkeide and Johnson were adamant about preserving the rule. But the other two candidates were open to discussing changes on charter.

Ham Lakers I urge you to read carefully what all four candidates have written. These issues will affect our taxes and the future of Ham Lake. I urge all residents to become educated on the issues and candidates prior to making a choice on November 4th.

Not Sure Where to Vote? Click HERE to Find Your Polling Place!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

East Bethel to Discuss Hwy 65/Cty 22 at Council Meeting Wednesday June 4

Attention East Bethel, Ham Lake and Wyoming residents interested in the Hwy 65/Viking Blvd intersection development!

The Community of East Bethel adopted the comprehensive plan in August 2007 that was submitted to the Met Council. Included in the plan is a city sewer and water proposal centered on the development of a town center at Hwy 65 and Viking Blvd. (County 22).

Now the real work is beginning! The proposed development of this intersection is on the agenda at this week's city council meeting-June 4 at East Bethel City Hall, 7:30 PM. As always these meetings are open to the public. Residents of East Bethel should plan to attend as community growth always brings up questions...City council meetings are one forum where you can to get your answers!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Fireworks in Ham Lake are not Always on July 4th—City Water/Sewer Discussion End with Controversy

Fireworks are not limited to celebrations in July. The City of Ham Lake’s Mayor was at the center of a hullabaloo due to a misused metaphor that was construed as bigoted. The spark of controversy was amplified by local media last week when Mayor, Paul Meuiner as voiced his frustration as the only one on the bandwagon for development proposal including a town center and city water and sewer. Read the full story of Mayor Meunier’s controversial racial comment HERE.
That situation aside, the real news is that city water and sewer and the town center appears to be off the table in Ham Lake’s comprehensive plan that will be presented to the Met Council later this year. The Ham Lake Planning Task Force has completed its mission and the proposed comprehensive plan will be available for community review on May 13, 2008. It appears that the tremulous and emotional meetings filled with Ham Lake residents are at an end.

Residents that are unavailable on May 13, will have a final opportunity to review the plan at another open house on June 9 when the public hearing will be held. Information and maps are also posted on the Ham Lake City Website.

Highlights of the plan include:

• Residential lot size will remain at one unit per acre.


• Individual septic systems will be used for waste water treatment.


• No centralized or municipal sewer system.

The city council is open to the possibility of batched systems paid for by direct users for the businesses at Hwy 65 and Crosstown and residents in the Coon Lake/Hiawatha Beach area to address concerns noted and discussed in the task force meetings.
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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Ham Lake Chamber of Commerce Hosts Forum on City Sewer and Water

Last Monday, the Ham Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion on the proposed Ham Lake development. The discussion was lead by Ham Lake’s Mayor Paul Meunier along with East Bethel’s Mayor, Greg Hunter. Several commercial Realtors and developers were invited and on hand for the discussion. Though not widely publicized, several dozen members of the public were in attendance at the informal discussion as well.

The two hour Q&A event on February 25 was held in the Ham Lake Senior Center just downstairs from City Hall. Mayor Meunier gave a brief introduction to East Bethel’s Mayor Hunter and then proceeded with an overview of the five proposed plans from the task force. View the Five Visions of Ham Lake Development HERE.

During the overview, Mayor Hunter did interrupt the discussion to clarify that East Bethel does not yet have a wastewater treatment system or pipe to connect to and at this time just has designated areas along Highway 65 that would be for proposed development. According to Mayor Hunter this area includes two major intersections at County Rd 22 and 65 and another intersection to the north. It would extend approximately three quarters of a mile in either direction from Highway 65. The City of East Bethel has been working on this development project for four years and is continuing on the research and development stage of the project. The Met Council has committed $30 million dollars to the development of a wastewater treatment facility but as of yet, no developers have stepped forward to pay for the infrastructure to connect. Until that happens there is no plant for Ham Lake to connect to.

This prompted questions and soon hands started popping up in the crowd, mainly belonging to members of the public. The questions were specific. One resident questioned why the amount of connection changed from $37,000 down to $22,000-$25,000 on the Ham Lake proposal, Mayor Meunier answered that the numbers had not changed. “These are the exact numbers presented at the Town Hall meeting,” was the Mayor’s response.

Mayor Meunier is correct that the numbers are the same as presented at the meeting. But earlier meetings and in an online Powerpoint Presentation documentation dated December 11, 2007, the price range was listed as $32,500-$37,500 per REC Residential Equivalent Connection (One REC per Acre) for this option. View documentation HERE. When I personally reviewed all of the documentation of what I had posted previously, I notice changing numbers and a lot of fuzzy math.

No matter what the number, with foreclosures up considerably in Anoka County, is it fair to add an additional concern to any residents of Ham Lake…Even if it only encompasses 7% of the community? Read StarTribune’s Article "Housing Crisis Hits Hardest in Anoka County" HERE. Many people are struggling to make current house payments, is it realistic to think that ANY homeowner can absorb even a $20,000 assessment?
When asked about what East Bethel residents would be required to pay, Mayor Greg Hunter said that it was very difficult to put a price tag on something that may or may not happen. He further recommended to Mayor Meunier that Ham Lake use caution when putting price tags on something so far in the future. He reiterated that there is no pipe yet and no developers. Link to Update on East Bethel’s Plan.

When asked specifically about Coon Lake as it is several miles out from the 65 corridor, East Bethel’s Mayor Hunter did admit that there are some issues with failing septic systems and small lots that could possibly be addressed in the Hiawatha Beach neighborhood. Though no one pointed it out at the meeting, this area is not within the designated ¾ mile city water and sewer area of East Bethel but several miles away. He additionally made a point of saying that the water quality of Coon Lake continues to be monitored and it is as good as it has ever been.

Ham Lake Mayor Meunier did make a statement that he did not want to see the rural aspect of Ham Lake changed. He knows that many residents live in five acre developments as he does himself and he has no intention of having city water and sewer brought to every street in Ham Lake. The city sewer and water area encompasses only 7% of the community. It is obvious that neither he, nor his neighbors, are in the proposed Coon Lake city sewer and water district. But the unvoiced question remains as within that 7% area there are several 2, 3 and 5 acre parcels as well larger and smaller lot sizes. Why is it ok to force ANY Ham Lake resident to connect to city water and sewer?

Questions were asked of both mayors regarding whether residents will be forced to connect. The mayors were in agreement on this that if the pipe came down the street, it is not the intention of the CURRENT city councils to force residents of either community to connect. But they went on to further say this could be as many as 10-20 years out and that they cannot control what the Met Council or FUTURE city councils might require.

At this point, a developer stood and offered that it was his belief that whenever utilities are offered to a community it is best to connect no matter what the cost. A resident questioned this logic considering the plight of the neighboring community of Ramsey facing bankruptcy. The developer called the Ramsey situation an “anomaly” but few in the audience were convinced as several other town center developments in Burnsville, Lake Elmo and Apple Valley are also struggling and restructuring.

Another resident who has some experience in the city utilities spoke his distrust of the statements that connection will be an option or choice to the homeowner. He remembered a few years back when people in Blaine were forced to connect and the assessments were so high several homeowners were forced to sell. He went on to further tell of signs along the roads in house after house of people who could not afford to pay.

Toward the end of the meeting, Mayor Paul Meunier did state that 84% of the Task Force was in favor of moving ahead with Option 2, the Town Center with a Coon Lake Water and Sewer District. He pointed out that every Ham Lake resident was given the option of participating in the task force. This is true. But had the task force been presented as “Ham Lake is considering City Sewer and Water” rather than being organized to look into a trail system, I am certain that more than 34 residents would have signed up.

It is interesting to note that of the 34 listed on the Task Force, I could only verify 22 as Ham Lake residents in the Anoka County tax records. So, that 84% of the task force is roughly 28 people. When there are over 12,000 citizens in the Ham Lake area, this means that less than 0.2% of Ham Lake residents agree that this is the best option.

With something as big as city water and sewer being considered which will in some way affect all Ham Lake residents, doesn’t it make sense to poll all Ham Lakers?

Additional Articles on the City Water and Sewer in Ham Lake:

• Ham Lake Sewer District: $75 Million…Plus Interest


• Mike’s Musings “Sewergate"


• Tale of Two Headlines—City Water and Sewer for Ham Lake?


• Price tag in the millions for Ham Lake sewer


• Ham Lake Residents Town Hall Meeting—View City Water and Sewer Plans


• Town Hall Meeting Update—More Questions than Answers as the City Water/Sewer Debate in Ham Lake Continues

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Town Hall Meeting Update—More Questions than Answers as the City Water/Sewer Debate in Ham Lake Continues

It was a full house at Ham Lake City Hall this past Tuesday night. People from all over the city came to view the five options for growth being considered by the Task Force. Most of the standing room only audience was there to hear about the potential for city water and sewer as Ham Lake is currently a community with 100% individual septic systems and wells. The cost estimates for assessments running into the tens of thousands, brought out many concerned residents.

The Town Hall meeting regarding possible changes to the City of Ham Lake was brief but thorough. It was given by the two consultants with Bolton & Menk that were hired to set up and run the community development task force. Neither the Mayor nor any city officials, though present, addressed the public during the hour plus event.

The Five Alternative Visions being considered were presented, followed by a brief question and answer session. The consultants indicated the meeting was an opportunity for the community to view the alternatives but the final decisions on the plan would be made at a later date by the city council. Their opening remarks of how they had never seen such a big turnout for an event like this was an indication of how passionate Ham Lakers are about the subject of city water and sewer. (The crowd filled the meeting room and overflowed into the lobby seating area.)

Two of the visions were most concerning. Vision #1 would provide city water and sewer to a 115 mixed use village center with wastewater management provide by East Bethel. Vision #2 expands this plan with utilities for the village center and 1700 acres of surrounding residential areas with wastewater management provide by the Metropolitan Council.

The presentation began with slides that compared the Highway 65 corridor in the city of Ham Lake to several other Twin Cities completed village communities located in St. Louis Park, Burnsville, New Brighton and the newly developed Hugo area. Two of these were completely city- redevelopments with utility infrastructure already in place. It was also pointed out by a member of the audience that two of these commercial endeavors while better positioned to jobs, airport and downtowns than Ham Lake, still suffered significant financial difficulties. The presenter did concede that this could be true.

I reviewed documentation on the Ham Lake city website addressing Ham Lake Development Needs. These include the following needs: failing septic systems in the commercial area at the corner of Highway 65 and Crosstown, a lack of an city image, poor frontage roads, a need for trails around McKinley Elementary and upgrading Lexington Avenue. I don’t know how many of these needs were addressed with the plans other than upgrading the septic and creating an image for the city in the plans.

Many new questions and problems will come from some of the proposals, specifically the mixed use, village community center concept with city utilities and high density residential. My biggest question is, “Why?”

The Answer: The City of East Bethel is doing it. This seems to one standout reason for installing city water and sewer and creating this neighborhood village-type shopping and residential center. East Bethel has recently committed to pursuing this concept with its own sewage system, so Ham Lake should likewise, seize the opportunity or be left behind. If Ham Lake doesn’t do it now, the community will have missed a growth opportunity and residents will have to drive two miles further north to shop in the East Bethel or five minutes south to Blaine.

Some questions that I still have following the Town Hall meeting are as follows:

1. Finite lines for the proposed Sewer Area. It was said that the potential sewer area had finite lines and would only affect 7% of the area of Ham Lake with the rest remaining rural. One of these lines borders a new development on Crosstown that will have individual septic systems and wells. Not one lot has sold in two years since the development opened. Now I ask you, do you think a developer would ask for a variance to have city water and sewer cross the “finite” line so that the properties could be more affordable?


2. Lake Netta is very near the 7% area with the finite lines. If septic systems start failing in this area, do you think there will be requests and variances to protect Lake Netta as well?


3. If the answers to questions 1 and 2 are yes; Do one really believe that if city water and sewer are introduce in one area of Ham Lake, it won’t be introduced little by little to all parts of the city eventually?


4. When looking at similar community developments, why wasn’t the recent project in the City of Ramsey reviewed? I would think that much could have been learned from their project as they are in an area the most similar to Ham Lake with many acreage properties on well and septic and have similar commute issues as they are located in the northwest suburban area. According to the 2005 profile on Met Council website, this 370 acre mixed use development is profiled as a conscious effort to redefine rural Ramsey’s identity. Could it be it wasn’t included because the Ramsey project is now considered a financial failure and in foreclosure?


5. In looking at the other cities, what were the cost overruns for each of the projects? Why weren’t these costs added in as part of the cost equation?


6. A statement was made existing homeowners would not have to connect their home to the water and sewer lines. The cost outline was for new homes only. A significant part of the 7% area included existing homes. Does this mean there would be no cost to that homeowner who does not connect? Or would there still be a substantial cost in assessments for city water and sewer being available in the street whether a resident chose to connect or not?


7. Why aren’t all property owners citywide being assessed for this new development as they too would benefit from the community expansion and be end users of the new village center?


8. As many property owners have more than one acre lots, will the fees be assessed based on current property identification numbers being counted as one assessment or per acre or some other smaller unit? The question was asked, but no firm answer was given.


9. How can home owners, many struggling with financial issues or on fixed incomes, be expected to pay assessments that are exceeding 10-20% of their current property values?


10. Why is there only an 800 resident phone survey being used rather than a citywide vote? If all city residents aren’t to pay for the new infrastructure, shouldn’t the end users who will be required to pay these assessments have a stronger voice in the issue?


11. Will it really come down to a vote of the city council without a majority vote of Ham Lake citizens?


12. Are there any legal options either as individuals or a class action that affected home owners have to delay this process until additional information can be gathered and reviewed?
    

Unfortunately, I don’t have answers to these questions. I had more questions than answers after the presentation this past Tuesday.

Today, I took a further step and look up the original information presented to the city council in January. It is worth looking at…especially page14 of the presentation describing how the improvements will be paid for…Up front, fully funded by the users. The costs projected at over $32,500 are in 2007 dollars without interest. Here is a link to the slides used in the January presentation. There are differences with the Alternative Visions sheet passed out at the Town Hall meeting and this earlier presentation. Note that Alternative #5 for remaining status quo has no cost or even a page outlined in the January presentation. My guess is that is because there would be no cost if your well and septic are in good working order. This was changed in the public proposals to include a cost to the residential user of $22,000-$30,000 for a new well and septic system.

As a resident of Ham Lake I have concerns for my property value and possible assessments. As a Realtor working in the Ham Lake area, my clients have these concerns and questions too. If you are a Ham Lake resident, I invite you to leave your questions and comments regarding the proposal and Town Hall meeting here as well.

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Ham Lakers Have Spoken—City Water and Sewer may be the Mayor’s Dream, But Not Theirs!

In a somewhat biased Lakes and Loons survey, Ham Lake residents were allowed the opportunity to log on and give their opinion on the proposed ideas for city water and sewer in Ham Lake, MN. What was their opinion? In a word, NO!

The Lakes and Loons staff did what they could to verify one vote per resident so there is some legitimacy to the polling process. At this first chance for Ham Lake residents to voice their opinion on the subject, the response was overwhelmingly in favor of leaving things as they are. With 186 respondents, a whopping 183 said no to city water and sewer for the City of Ham Lake.

I don’t know what kind of margin for error would be considered in this survey but whatever it is; this survey needs to be seriously considered by the Task Force and Ham Lake City Council. With survey numbers like this, a community wide poll might be a consideration prior to moving forward on any type of city water/sewer system. FULL SURVEY RESULTS.

When the Lakes and Loons February issue arrived in our mailbox, I spent over an hour reading the full two page spread of comments with my husband. There were over a hundred comments. Many respondents were senior citizens and long time residents questioning the logic of the proposal and how they were expected to pay for it. Several people vowed to move. A few thought the mayor should move. Many questioned what is the Met Council and what does it do? READ COMMENTS HERE

As a Realtor and resident of Ham Lake, some of these comments are concerning to me. First of all, anyone in Ham Lake that is considering moving has now been put on notice of potential city water and sewer assessments. This information about potential and proposed assessments must be disclosed to any and every potential home buyer. With the real estate market slowdown, this will make selling any Ham Lake home extremely difficult, if not impossible, until the situation is resolved. Any home could be sold but the price concessions would have to be drastic to outweigh a potential $20,000 plus assessment.

As for what the Met Council is and the role it plays in the decisions being made in Ham Lake, I had this same question. I did some research on the Metropolitan Council website and discovered that in addition to providing funds for developing parks and walking trails, they are an integral part of the Twin Cities wastewater treatment system. The Met Council is receives 42% of its funding from user fees for waste water treatment and transit service. Read about the MET COUNCIL and what they do here.

Ham Lake residents will have their opportunity Tuesday, February 12, 2008 to voice their opinions on city water and sewer at a Town Hall meeting. It is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM at City Hall with a Task Force presentation on all five proposals. Plan to attend and let your voice be heard.

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Ham Lake Residents Town Hall Meeting—View City Water and Sewer Plans

Do you have an opinion on the vision for Ham Lake’s future? Take time and attend the town hall meeting to see the five proposed plans that the task force has outlined. On Tuesday February 12 starting at 7:00PM, there will be an opportunity for all of Ham Lake’s residents to see the five comprehensive plan proposals that are currently being considered by the task force appointed by the city council.

According to the February 2008 issue of the Ham Laker newsletter, there will be a short presentation describing each of the five alternative visions for Ham Lake.

Mixed-Use Village Center Develop 115 acres around the Crosstown/Hwy 65 intersection with industrial, commercial, park and residential with varying densities. Densities meaning single family or multi family (apartment and townhome) developments. City water and sewer service would be contracted from East Bethel.

Mixed-Use Village Center and Moderate Density Development Expanded version with 1700 acres developed to include residential homes with 1/3 acre lot sizes. According to a map in the January 2008 issue of the Ham Laker this would encompass the area around the Coon Lake area north of Crosstown and east to Lexington Avenue. Sewer service would be contracted directly with the Met Council and the City would be required to develop it’s own water system. Residents in the proposed area could be required to connect to these new systems.

Business-Only Sewer District 115 Acres at the Crosstown/Hwy 65 intersection developed for industrial and business use exclusively with water and sewer services contracted from East Bethel.

Mini-Batch Sewer Plant Develop a 20 acre sewer district to serve the existing businesses at the Crosstown/Hwy 65 intersection. Each business would use their existing wells.

Individual Sewer and Wells This proposal, which is the least expensive of the five options, is to maintain status quo with individual wells and septic systems serving each property. The city will continue to monitor the water quality in area lakes and enforce septic system regulations as necessary.

This is an important meeting that will affect every Ham Lake resident and our taxes for years to come. Plan to attend to review the proposed options for yourself.

Additional Articles on the City Water and Sewer in Ham Lake:

• Ham Lake Sewer District: $75 Million…Plus Interest


• Mike’s Musings “Sewergate"


• Tale of Two Headlines—City Water and Sewer for Ham Lake?


• Price tag in the millions for Ham Lake sewer

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Tale of Two Headlines—City Water and Sewer for Ham Lake?

A day or two before Christmas, our copy of the January 2008 Ham Laker Newsletter arrived from the City of Ham Lake. I noticed it nestled between the holiday cards and did a quick glance over the headline, “Please Answer our Community Survey”, before tearing into the envelopes that held the photos, wishes and good tidings from our family and friends. It wasn’t until the Christmas gift wrap had been cleared that I had a chance to sit down and actually read it.

Being a Realtor who likes to blog to keep residents informed on Ham Lake and Anoka County, I read every issue of The Ham Laker cover to cover to get the news from the city council meetings and community. Luckily even though the January issue was poorly timed, I did not make an exception.

On closer examination of the story on the community survey, I read the words, “financially feasible sewer and water system.”

Hmmmm…I had heard that there was talk about developing the corner of Highway 65 and Crosstown for additional commercial development. I had read about the task force of 30 people that were investigating options. Reading further, I became a bit concerned as I read between the lines, it sounded like they were seriously considering bringing city water and sewer into Ham Lake and implying it would lower our taxes.

Looking closely at the map, the proposed area included areas around Coon Lake. I was becoming mildly concerned.

A few days after the New Year, the January issue of Lakes and Loons arrived. This year old privately funded publication has been giving a different side of the news since it’s inception first issue. Their headline was not a bit vague. Ham Lake Sewer District: $75 Million…Plus Interest

Ouch…The Ham Lake city council was not just considering a northern city water and sewer system, they were talking numbers. Reading the article was eye opening!

• The task force is not made up of Ham Lake residents.


• No citywide vote is scheduled for this massive change to the Ham Lake community.


• A community center is being considered along with walking and bike paths.


• High density housing would be an option in areas where the city utilities are available.


• Several proposals are being considered to pay for the proposed city utilities. One funded completely by developers.

Now as a Realtor working in Anoka County, this concerns me. People consider Ham Lake because of the rural life style and close proximity to the city. These changes will have an immediate affect on property values. Right now, any homeowner in Ham Lake would have to disclose to a buyer that city water and sewer are being discussed as an option. This could deter a buyer from considering a purchase of a home as the costs to abandon a septic system, seal a private well and connect to public utilities will run into the tens of thousands of dollars. How do you escrow for unknown assessments and costs?

With current time on the market for a Ham Lake home being counted in months not days; this is going to be another blow to the Ham Lake home seller. View 4th Quarter Ham Lake real estate market statistics here.

If your Ham Lake home is not in the area where the public utilities are being considered but you live nearby, your home value can still be affected. I have sold homes in Centerville, Lino Lakes, North Branch, Forest Lake and Wyoming with septic systems in close proximity to homes with city water and sewer. It is a tough sell when you have a well but your neighbors have city water. And the situation is the same with a septic versus public sewer connection. There is always a perceived threat that the homeowner might be forced at some point to connect to the system.

Though, I have few answers and many questions about the water/sewer proposal for Ham Lake, I do have some advice to Ham Lake residents. Read both of the articles* and Mike’s Musings “Sewergate” editorial and make your own determination on the situation. Make it a point to attend the council meetings. Take the survey and give your comments on the situation. Get educated. This WILL affect Ham Lake property values and taxes and the affect will begin immediately.

*I provided a link to the Ham Laker Newsletter page but as of today, the January 2008 issue is not available on-line.

Lakes and Loons Survey for Ham Lake Residents

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/