Loading...
07-17-1987 CC MIN MAIN STREET MEETING OF RESIDENTS HELD AT HANDKE ELEMENTARY ON JULY 17. 1987 ~ Present: Pat Klaers. City Administrator. Terry Maurer. City Engineer, Estelle Gunkel. Mayor. Councilmembers Schuldt and Tralle (7:00) The meeting began at 6:35 p.m. with a welcome from Councilmember Schuldt followed by some background on the project by Mayor Gunkel. Gunkel stated that a 1985 feasibility study was done on a comprehensive Main Street project. This study included the sewer. water. storm sewer. and street systems. Gunkel stated that this meeting was being held so that the City could inform property owners of the plans for the 1988 project. which is planned to go from "bridge to bridge". and in turn hear comments and concerns from the residents. Terry Maurer. City Engineer then took the floor to explain what elements the project will include and the construction time frame. Mr. Maurer began by stating that the existing trunk interceptor sewer line runs along the Mississippi River bank and is approximately 50 years old. He stated that if there were a breakdown. it could not be repaired which would cause serious problems for a majority of the sewer system users in the City. Maurer also mentioned funding of the project. year in MSA funds for street projects and it years worth of funds will be needed. if not more. The City receives $300.000 a is planned that at least two e The project will include Main Street. the block of Jackson Avenue from Highway 10 to Main Street and Proctor Avenue from Highway 10 to Main Street. The City Council thought that since these streets are also in need of repair. this is a good time to do it all at once. Maurer went through a hand-out explaining the proposed improvements including water. storm sewer. street widths. concrete gutters. curbs. sidewalks street lighting. He stated that Main Street will be wider in the area to allow for more parking and will then taper down further sewer. and new downtown west. Maurer informed the property owners that the main improvement will be to the street and the central sewer system. He does not see any significant problems with the water main but stated that some lines. hydrants and valves will be changed. Maurer does not expect any major improvements with the storm sewer either. The City would like to do some work with the County when they begin on Proctor to prevent any unnecessary dips that hold excessive amounts of water. Maurer then went through the tenative project schedule. The feasibility study will be available to the Council in August or September. From there. a public hearing will be held to discuss costs and funding and the plans and specifications will be ordered. Upon approval of the plans. Maurer is anticipating the bidding to take place in November with the project beginning in April or May of 1988. This is expected to be a one year project. The assessment hearing for the project is planned to be held in the fall of 1988. e Resident Main Street Meeting July 17. 1987 ------------- ------------- 4It. Maurer explained the City's assessment policy and stated that the abutting property owners will be assessed for a portion of the upgrading of the street even though MSA monies will finance part of the street and the street will be built to MSA standards. There will be an area wide assessment for the sewer because they are expecting to put in an oversized system which can serve properties currently not on the system. Maurer does not anticipate any water assessments and stated that the storm sewer will be funded by MSA dollars. There will only be a small assessment for the sidewalks and gutter. Councilmember Schuldt spoke briefly on the sanitary sewer system and stated that now is the best time to construct a new interceptor line. If the existing sewer line were to breakdown after the Main Street project is completed. Main Street would have to be dug up again and property owners would have to pay again. One resident questioned the water main. Maurer stated that pipes in various areas will be replaced but not the entire line. This line is adequately sized so they will mainly be concentrating on the maintenance problems. e Questions were also raised regarding the age of the sewer line. when the City will know how much work needs to be done to the water main. and the abandoning of the sewer line. Maurer stated that the sewer line will be abandoned as a trunk line but will still function as a lateral line. After a question being raised about abandoning of the lateral line. Maurer stated that he could not give a specific time until the feasibility study is completed but the City is trying to avoid expensive temporary fixes to replace/repair the existing river bank line. Downtown 1. 2. 3. parking was then discussed and Maurer gave the options: Parallel parking on both sides of street. Diagonal parking on one side and parallel parking on the other side. Diagonal parking on one side and no parking on the other side. Questions were then raised on the sanitary sewer assessment area. which is yet undecided. and on the sidewalks. There were accessibility questions asked concerning Handke Elementary and the Public Library. Councilmember Tralle stated that the larger the project is. the larger the construction company will be. and the less time the project will take. Also. if various projects can be tied together. the less the cost will be. Incentive clauses and penalty clauses were questioned. There will be penalty clauses. but incentive clauses are still questionable. The businesses which will be affected by the Main Street project will be inconvenienced as little as possible. The project will be broken down into pieces and the contractor will attempt to work around the delivery schedules of these businesses so that access is always available. - Residents Main Street Meeting July 17. 1987 ------------- ------------- 4It Residents raised questions regarding the shutting off of water and sewer. Maurer stated that water may have to be shut off for a few hours at a time but that residents will never need to know of sewer shut offs. It will be the job of the contractor to make arrangements for continuous sewer service. The Main Street curve (by the dam) was discussed and the down grading of the curve was a topic. Also. downtown parking was discussed further. One resident. also a downtown business owner. questioned when the Business Committee meets to discuss the project. These meetings are held on Tuesday mornings at the Sunshine Depot. Pat Klaers stated that the purpose of this committee is to give feedback to the City regarding the project. He indicated that residents may want to form a committee for the same purpose. Councilmember Tralle questioned those in attendance on their feelings about the downtown appearance. Some items of concern were: trees in the boulevards. underground utility lines. water pipes in homes. the narrowing of streets. and lighting. Other discussion topics included extending businesses West on Main Street and striping on city streets including parking stalls and painting the word "STOP" on streets near certain intersections. All take good utilities. such as natural gas. will be notified when the project is to place. If these utilities would like to install service. this would be a time to do so. but the home owners must order service. e The next Main Street meeting will be September. Financial information will be approximately 28 individuals attending Council members. the public hearing in August or available at this time. There were the meeting. excluding staff and The meeting adjourned j)~tc at 7:50 p.m. Danille Mathison Recording Secretary CUL e