Several agenda items to be considered at the April 18 Preston City Council meeting were related to upgrades of city infrastructure.
The first infrastructure improvement considered was the street storm sewer project. City Engineer Brett Grabau reported that he has now received verbal commitments from three property owners (Wood, Amdahl, and Johnston) to allow stormwater easements through each of their properties. The alignment for the project has been changed from the original plans. The original bid from Alcon Excavating Inc. in March 2021 was $58,110.75. Due to the change in alignment some street reconstruction (Brownsville St.) will be needed. Also, supply costs have increased significantly adding to the project cost which is now expected to be $153,447.60. Grabau said at today’s costs the bid probably isn’t out of line. Concrete product costs are up 30% from last year and high-density polyethylene is up almost 75%.
Interim City Administrator Sheila Marzolf said she will do some research to see if American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds can be used to help pay for the project. City councilman Charles Sparks said it is important that we get this done. Grabau agreed it is a necessary improvement. Mayor Kurt Reicks concurred, “in my opinion, we need to finish the project.” Marzolf noted there is $122,516 in the budget for street improvements.
There will be an eight to 12 week wait time between ordering the supplies and their delivery for the project. Assuming that all the property owners follow through and sign the easement agreements, construction could begin in early July. The project was approved as presented contingent on all three signed easement agreements.
The fire hall roof (south facing side) was damaged in the December 15, 2021, storm. Ryan Throckmorton said he and Jim Bakken had received quotes from four contractors. The city asked for the pricing of asphalt shingles, standing seam steel, and steel shingles. The roof is 30 years old. The city’s insurance will pay $14,000 of the cost due to the December storm. Asphalt shingles are about a quarter of the cost of steel. The council approved the lowest quote from Ronningen Roofing for asphalt shingles in the amount of $46,700. The fascia will also have to be repaired but was not included in the quotes. The city’s cost in the amount of $32,700 will need to come out of the General Fund or ARPA funds or a combination of both.
The city’s four sirens failed in the December storm because power failed. A quote and plan have been received from Ancom Communications to replace the city’s Civil Defense Sirens. The plan is to replace the four old sirens with two new sirens with backup power in case of a power outage. Bakken said the city will set the poles and hang the equipment saving about $15,000 for this work. The two sirens will cost $38,370. The coverage over the city is expected to be good or even better with the new sirens. Bakken added ARPA funds can definitely be used to pay for the emergency communication sirens. Approval was given to purchase the sirens using ARPA funds.
Local Board of Appeal & Equalization
County Assessor Jason McCaslin reviewed changes in the assessed property values in Preston. The medium ratio for the city of Preston was 72.46%, significantly below the required 90-105%. McCaslin noted the market adjustments across the county range from 15% to 45%. Preston had a 35% increase in residential building values. Preston only had one commercial sale in 2021; the medium ratio was below compliance at 67.62%. Due to limited commercial sales, the five-year sample study is used for market adjustments.
The overall change for residential across the county was 16.4%. Across all of southeast Minnesota, residential market changes on a county basis ranged from 12% to 23%.
Fillmore County Property Appraiser Justin Kraling reviewed seven Preston properties where the owner had appealed their valuation. Reasons for a valuation decrease included the lack of a full basement, an unfinished garage, or a portion of an unfinished basement. Kraling explained these properties previously had not had the benefit of an internal investigation of the home. The valuation of a vacant lot was also reduced due to a steep incline on the property.
One property received a change in classification due to a building previously used for a business, now being used only for residential storage. Another classification change from Residential non-homestead to Ag Homestead was made due to one parcel being continuous to the Ag Homestead property of the same owner.
Two parcels were deferred to the county Board of Appeals because an appraisal could not be scheduled before this meeting.
The city council approved each valuation change as recommended by the assessor’s office. No comments were made from the public during the meeting.
Other business in brief
•Two resolutions were approved calling for public hearings at the Tuesday, May 3 city council meeting. The feasibility report has been received on proposed Maple St. improvements at an estimated cost of $74,964.96. The feasibility report has been received on the proposed Circle Heights Dr. improvements at an estimated total cost of $289,170.38.
•Bakken reported that the city’s water/street pickup is due to be replaced to keep a five-year rotation schedule. Snow plowing is hard on a pickup. Bakken explained that getting a replacement pickup at this time is difficult. The only ones available at this time to be ordered are GMC 2022 pickups. The city has paid for half the cost of the water/street pickup in the past. He estimated the city’s share for the purchase of a new 2022 GMC 3500 4×4 pickup will be approximately $19,000. The money is in the equipment fund to pay for the purchase. The purchase was approved.
•There was a discussion about vandalism to a portion of the new retaining walls on St. Anthony Street. Bakken said there is no way to know if the wall is on private or city property. The city did pay to install the walls. The city’s insurance will not pay to pressure wash or sand blast the paint off the wall. Councilman Sparks said he is an owner of a portion of the new walls, and he believes it should be the homeowners’ responsibility to fix the damage caused by the vandalism. Councilman Robert Maust suggested the city try to pressure wash the wall. By consensus it was decided to have the city try to wash off the paint and have the homeowner check his insurance for coverage.
•A list of appointed election judges for the city was approved for each of three elections to be held this year: May 24, August 9, and November 8.
•Lisa Brainard and Peggy Bjortomt were hired as recommended by the Tourism Board for the Preston Visitor’s Center for the 2022 season.
•The next city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 3. Public hearings will be held for Maple St. and Circle Heights Dr. improvements and two new city council members may be appointed.
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