5.3. SR 08-15-1994
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1326 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 551 08
612-644-4389
Fax: 612-644-9446
.9800 She lard Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55441
612-546-0432
Fox: 612-544-6398
ITEM 5.3.
I-
August 12, 1994
File: 230-215-58
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: NORTHEAST AREA TRUNK SEWER AND WATER ASSESSMENT RATES
Dear Council Members:
As directed, we have calculated the actual cost and assessment rates for the trunk sanitary
sewer and water for the Northeast Area of the City. The total cost of these improvements
consists of two main items: first, the construction cost and associated overhead; secondly,
the cost of deferral of assessments. Once these two costs had been determined, they were
divided by the approximately 300 acres in the service district to come up with an assessment
rate.
To determine the construction cost, we used the actual cost of trunk watermain oversizing
from the Hillside Estates 1st Addition, the actual cost from the trunk watermain construction
to the new water tower, the bid prices from the current trunk improvement project under
construction, plus a 5 % contingency since the project is not finaled yet, and we estimated
the length and cost of future trunk watermain oversizing throughout the remainder of the
Hillside Estates area. In doing the latter, we have also estimated the construction cost of
these pipes in future years. This total construction cost and the associated overhead divided
by the area of the service district resulted in a cost per acre of $2,588.
The second component of the assessment rate is the cost of deferrals. In calculating this
component, we have assumed that the remainder of the Hillside Estates area will develop at
a rate of 20 acres per year over the next 7 years. We have also assumed that the Everett
Specht lifetime estate will consist of 23 acres and a lO-year time frame. In discussing
deferrals with Lori Johnson, Finance Director, we have assumed an interest rate of 6.5%.
Calculating this total cost and dividing by the acreage of the service district results in a rate
of $464 per acre. Combining these two costs results in an estimated assessment rate for
trunk sanitary sewer and water improvements of $3,052 per acre.
.
Honorable Mayor and City Council
August 12, 1994
Page Two
It is important to note that in this service district the cost of deferrals amounts to
approximately 1/6 of the total assessment rate. Given the size of this district, the total area
affected by assessment deferrals is slightly less than 50%. Other service districts within the
City have the potential to have a much higher percentage of assessment deferrals, given the
large tracts of land in those areas.
I will be in attendance at your August 15th City Council meeting shouId you have any
questions or would like more detail on the method of calculation used to establish this rate.
Sincerely,
MSA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS
~~~
Terry 1. Maurer, P.E.
.
TJM:tw
215-120hug
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