HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.d. Renaming County Road 38AGENDA ITEM: Renaming County Road 38
AGENDA SECTION:
PREPARED BY: Jamie Verbrugge, City Administrator
AGENDA NO. a b.
ATTACHMENTS:
1 May 22 Meeting Handout
2 Stakeholder Survey Results
3. Correspondences from McMenomy
family members
APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion
S ROSEMOUNT
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session: June 14, 2006
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ISSUE
County Road 38 east of Highway 3 was turned back to the City as part of an agreement with Dakota
County in 2005. The City of Rosemount subsequently received a request from members of the
McMenomy family in 2005 to consider renaming old County Road 38 as McMenomy Road.
BACKGROUND
The City Council first discussed the possible renaming of old County Road 38 at Council work sessions in
August 2005 and again the following month The stretch between Highway 3 and County Road 71 (Blame
Avenue) is variously named 132n Street, Bonaire Path, and 135 Street due to a curve in the road. The
request by representatives of the McMenomy family to rename the street as McMenomy Road was based
on historical records showing that the road had previously borne that name.
At that meeting, the City Council directed staff to seek feedback from property owners regarding the
possible renaming of old County Road 38 either as McMenomy Road or as some other designation.
Property owners along that stretch of road from Highway 3 to CR 71 were invited to attend a meeting on
May 22, 2006, or to provide comments pnor to the meeting Six individuals sent e -mails Five opposed
the name change. Three own property along the road. Fourteen people attended the meeting. Six of
those attending were members of the McMenomy family.
The unscientific survey showed that most felt the street should have one name rather than the three
different current designations. That point seemed to be the only general consensus among the attendees.
SUMMARY
Staff requests that the Council discuss first whether to maintain the road under its current naming system
or to rename the entire stretch of road under one designation. If the decision is to rename the stretch,
Staff requests direction on what street name should be selected It is anticipated that a street name change
would be made effective upon completion of the public improvements scheduled for this year.
PUBLIC COMMENT
POSSIBLE RENAMING OF OLD COUNTY ROAD 38
Background
County Road 38 east of Highway 3 was turned back to local control in 2005. The old
county road at various points is currently known by three different names 132" Street,
Bonaire Path, and 135 Street The City of Rosemount is considering a name change for
the entire stretch from Highway 3 to County Road 71 (Blaine Avenue)
Our staff has spoken with the US Postal Service and understands that if the street name
changes, each property owner receiving mail at that location would need to file an
address change with the Post Office The Post Office would assign a dual address for a
period of one year During this one year period, mail recipients would be expected to
notify parties that send them mail (such as utilities, banks, family friends, etc) of the
address change At the end of one year, only mail addressed to the new name would be
delivered
Last year, members of the McMenomy Family asked the City to consider renaming that
stretch as McMenomy Road One of our local historians, Maureen Geraghty Bouchard,
provided documentation from the 1920 US Census showing that the street was previously
called McMenomy Road The McMenomy family was first established in Rosemount in
1857
The City also spoke with the County about the naming of streets. In the early 1970s, the
City changed its street naming convention to conform to a revised (voluntary) standard
that east -west streets be numbered (132" 145 etc) and that north -south streets be
named alphabetically depending on the area of the city m which they are located
Although the City is not required to follow the street naming system, there are only a few
deviations from the numbering approach such as Connemara Trail. and McAndrews Road
The City Council discussed this issue in September 2005. At that time, staff was asked to
look at alternatives for a name change and to seek feedback from property owners in the
area
Please provide your thoughts to the questions on the following page and make any other
comments that you would like the Council to consider.
Please respond to the statements based on the following scale:
1
Strongly Disagree
2 3 4 5
Strongly Agree
I think consolidating the entire stretch of Old County Road 38 into one street
name is a good idea
Renaming a portion or all of Old County Road 38 would create hardship for me.
I think renaming all or a portion of the street as McMenomy Road is a good idea.
Instead of renaming this street, I think it would be appropriate to name a street or
park after the McMenomys within a future residential subdivision if the area
currently owned by the McMenomy family develops at some time in the future.
I think it would be appropriate to consider naming streets or parks after the
property owner that sold the land for development in any future subdivision.
I think the City should look at renaming other streets, parks or facilities within the
community to recognize our community history.
I think it is important to recognize our community history in the naming of streets,
parks or facilities
If the street name is changed to something other than McMenomy Road, I would
suggest
Please provide a little information about yourself (responding Y or I):
I have a residence along Old County Road 38
I own property along Old County Road 38.
The three different street names have created confusion for me or others in the
past (for example, when giving directions) If yes, explain.
(turn over)
I think consolidating the entire stretch of Old County Road 38 into one street name is a
good idea
1 1 Strongly Disagree
1 2
0 3
1 4
12 5 Strongly Agree
Renaming a portion or all of Old County Road 38 would create hardship for me
10 1 Strongly Disagree
1 2
1 3
1 4
2 5 Strongly Agree
I think renaming all or a portion of the street as McMenomy Road is a good idea
3 1 Strongly Disagree
1 2
2 3
0 4
9 5 Strongly Agree
Instead of renaming this street, I think it would be appropriate to name a street or park
after the McMenomys within a future residential subdivision if the area currently owned
by the McMenomy family develops at some tine in the future
3 1 Strongly Disagree
1 2
4 3
1 4
6 5 Strongly Agree
I think it would be appropriate to consider naming streets or parks after the property
owner that sold the land for development in any future subdivision
2 1 Strongly Disagree
1 2
5 3
1 4
6 5 Strongly Agree
I think the City should look at renaming other streets, parks or facilities within the
community to recognize our community history
3 1 Strongly Disagree
2 2
5 3
1 4
4 5 Strongly Agree
I think it is important to recognize our community history in the naming of streets, parks
or facilities
1 1 Strongly Disagree
2 2
3 3
1 4
8 5 Strongly Agree
If the street name is changed to something other than McMenomy Road, I would suggest
McAndrews
135` St W for Entire Street
Please provide a little information about yourself (responding Y or N)
91' 5N I have a residence along Old County Road 38
11Y, 3 N I own property along Old County Road 38
4Y, 6N The three different street names have created confusion for me or
others in the past (for example, when giving directions) If yes,
explain
There is an east and west plus 2 names off Hwy 3.
Really hard to tell people where to turn Usually a street
that continues around a curve doesn't need a new name
When giving directions
As an appraiser realtor it has caused confusion
Other Comments NONE
01 II
TI IL UN` LRSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
LINM HOSPITALS
May 31, 2006
Rosemount City Council
2875145'" Street West
Rosemount, MN 55068 -4997
Dear City Councilmembers
I am writing to express my support for the re- naming of Old County Road 38 to McMenomy Road
Although I grew up in Saint Paul, I have always felt a strong attachment to Rosemount I have deep
family roots there, and spent significant time dunng my childhood in it I have always felt a keen
affection for its natural beauty and unique sense of community, history, and culture Over the years I
have watched it grow and change, yet I admire how it continues to honor its heritage and roots,
blending the past with the future so effectively. In my opinion it is this sense of community and tradition
which sets Rosemount apart and gives it a local flavor and character distinguishable from other parts of
the metro area or the state
For these reasons I support the use of names reflecting local history and community in area roads,
particularly when those names have been previously used for a road, whether officially or unofficially.
While I understand the impracticality of changing back at once all the names of roads currently
designated with genenc numbers to their original names, in the case of County Road 38 it will likely
have to be changed to something else, given that it is now owned by the city Practically speaking, it
makes more sense to give the road one name rather than the current three (132 Bonaire Path, and
135 I can speak from experience in saying that giving directions down this one road with three
names can be confusing to say the least. And as at least one census document shows, this road has
histoncally been known as McMenomy Road 1 think it prudent to restore this name to the road, as it
passes by both the location of the homestead of one of the original founders of Rosemount of that
name, whose house is now undergoing restoration for public exhibit at the Dakota County histoncal
village in Farmington, as well the current McMenomy farmstead built by his son Any new roads
developed could not dam this local histoncal significance
The restoration of the County Road 38 name to McMenomy Road would be in keeping with the
wonderful Rosemount tradition of hononng its unique local history and hentage. This is a trait I have
always admired about the Rosemount community, and is one of the reasons I hope to move there after
finishing my residency in intemal medicine here at the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque
Veteran's Affairs hospitals I would greatly appreciate your support in helping Rosemount to continue
to honor its past while moving into a bold new future
Sincerely,
Ted McMenomy, M.D.
Department of Internal Medicine PGY1-
University of New Mexico Hospital
2211 Lomas Blvd. N.E Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 (505) 272.2111
June 2, 2006
City of Rosemount
Mayor and Council members
2875 145 Street West
Rosemount, MN 55068
Re: McMenomy Road
Dear Honorable Mayor and Council members:
Edward McMenomy was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1819. As an adult, he came to America and lived
briefly in New York where he met his wife. Family legend has it that while in New York he worked to eam
enough money to pay for his seven sisters to Jom him from Ireland.
On May 25, 1857, Edward McMenomy purchased land along what is now called 135 Street and moved to
Rosemount with his wife and seven sisters Records prove he was both an active member of the community
and entrepreneur during Rosemount's earliest years. He financed and operated one of the first stores in
Rosemount, a general store that opened in the fall of 1869 called O'Bnen and Bnce (O'Brien was the
marred name of one of his sisters). Edward ran the store until his death in 1873.11e also served on the
Rosemount Township Board in 1864, and served as County Commissioner on the Dakota County Board
from 1871 until his death m 1873.
Perhaps more lasting than the public offices he held and the business he established, are the descendants of
Edward McMenomy that still remain m Rosemount today. Names of many people easily found by flipping
through Rosemount's phone book or walkmg through St. Patrick's or St. Joseph's Cemeteries, are related
through Edward or his sisters These names include not only McMenomy, but also Brice, Chapdelame,
Corrigan, Cunningham, Dooley, Dowd, Dowds, Doyle, Erler, Ervasti, Fischer, Geraghty, Hynes, Kelly,
McDonald, McGinley, McGinnis, McLafferty, O'Brien, Oster, Ryan, Ward and Whalen Numerous
members of all these families can trace a portion of their roots back to Rosemount's founding through the
original McMenomy homestead along 135 Street (which used to be called McMenomy Road until the mid
1900's). The original home built by Edward himself was moved last year to the Dakota County
Fairgrounds for preservation by the Dakota County Historical Society.
The story of Edward McMenomy is remarkable not only because it represents a link to Rosemount's very
founding, but also because, 149 years later, so many of Rosemount's citizens are here in part because of
him Meanwhile, five generations of McMenomys have lived along 135 Street and the family tradition of
farming which he began in 1857 continues to this day.
It is for all these reasons that I respectfully ask the Council to consider returnmg 135'" Street to its original
name, McMenomy Road, when it upgrades the road to accommodate planned future development. By
domg so, a lasting tribute to Rosemount's collective history would be readily achieved while preparing for
the arrival of the new families who will soon call Rosemount home. On the eve of its 150` anniversary,
what better way to symbolize Rosemount's past mbracing its future
Brendan McMenomy, M D.
2346 McKinley St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
I would like to acknowledge and thank John McMenomy for his extensive research into the history of
Rosemount and Edward McMenomy.