JASMINE MAY BE PAVED IF SALES TAS MONEY LEFT

The four landowners in the 2900 block of Jasmine Lane shouldn't expect their street to be paved anytime soon, but they can check back in three years.

By then city officials should know if any transportation sales tax money is left.

According to City Manager Michael G. Miller, several families own land on an unmaintained city right-of-way, not an actual gravel street. Because Jasmine didn't exist when the half-cent transportation sales tax was passed in August 1995, it doesn't qualify for tax funds.

If it did, landowners would pay only $10 per frontage foot, and Transportation Trust Fund money would pay the rest.

After months of consideration as a Transportation Trust Fund project, the paving of Jasmine dropped off the list in May. Dale Pingel, who lives on Jasmine between Dixie and Flad streets, appeared before the City Council on May 20 to argue that his road qualifies for tax money.

As far as the city is concerned, it doesn't qualify.

Miller said property owners on Jasmine had to get license and indemnity agreements from the city to build their driveways. Thee agreements state that the city isn't responsible for maintaining those driveways, which proves Jasmine isn't a city street, Miller said.

But the city didn't take note of those agreements when it placed Jasmine on several lists of gravel streets to be paved with Transportation Trust Fund money. City officials said it was an oversight.

However, Miller recommended that the City Council consider paving Jasmine after four miles of city-maintained gravel streets are bid for paving. That will be in about three years.

"Then the council can see if more income comes in or if the bids are lower than expected," Miller said. "Jasmine isn't the only street with private driveways under the same licensing system."

Jasmine is in Ward 4, represented by Councilman Melvin Kasten. Kasten said the issue is settled for now as far as he is concerned, but the Pingels are welcome to keep fighting for pavement.

"It wasn't a gravel street and it was eliminated from the plan," he said. "I think if they want to get it done, they will have to keep arguing about it. Maybe we will have some money left."

Pingel said it would make more sense to pave one block of Jasmine when crews are paving nearby Magnolia and Dixie instead of bringing all the equipment back in three years.

He said he planned to keep councilmen aware of his desire to see Jasmine paved.