Photo by Paula Barness
Spring Valley residents came together on March 8, as representatives from Bolton & Menk presented information regarding the upcoming Farmer Street project.
“Poor road conditions, sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer all need to be replaced, so really there’s only one answer, as a proposed improvement, and that is a full street and utility reconstruction. It is the most efficient way; remove what is failing while we are down there and then build it back up,” Drew Weber, of Bolton & Menk said of the project.
The project is to begin in either June or July with the substantial completion to be done in the fall and final completion in spring of 2024.
“The county is doing some work to the east of this project that is going to start earlier, so this project had to get slid back because they want those improvements done prior to this project,” Weber said of the timing.
It will cover the Farmers Street from the intersection of North Section Avenue out just past the Waste Water Treatment Plant entrance.
The project will be broken into two parts. The residential portion is a full street and utility reconstruction, which will replace much of the sanitary sewer, water, storm sewer and utility services, along with the surface improvements.
The rural section to the east doesn’t have as many utilities, but there will be some storm sewer work, as well as the surface improvements to the roadway and a portion of the trail.
The surface improvements will include 36-foot bituminous pavement with concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks and driveway aprons.
Weber shared that portions of the sewer has been shown to have root intrusion and some broken joints. “Water is then able to get into the system and ultimately to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. That is clean water that the city is paying to treat, so the goal is to eliminate that and create a water tight system.”
The sanitary system will be replaced with eight-inch to 10-inch Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe, concrete manholes and four-inch residential service lines to the property lines.
The water main will be upgraded to an eight-inch size with one-inch residential services to the property with a curb stop. New hydrants and valves will also be installed.
The storm sewer improvements will include new 12 to 36 inch pipes with additional catch basins and a six-inch sub drain in the street, which will include sump pump services for residents.
The cost for the street project will be split between the City of Spring Valley, Spring Valley Public Utilities and Fillmore County. The city’s portion is estimated at $918,000, utilities at $402,000 and the county at $1,205,000 for a total of $2,525,000.
Weber explained the city will be funding the project through a bond, which will be paid for through utility and enterprise funds, tax levies, cash reserves and special assessments.
Spring Valley’s assessment policy, which will pertain only to the residential section of the project, is for 20% of the assessable costs to be covered by adjacent property owners. This can include street and site, sanitary sewer and storm sewer improvements. Water main and utility services do not apply to the assessable costs.
Weber explained per the policy the assessment would be $140.23 per foot, but it was decided to try to keep the cost closer to previous street projects. The estimated cost assessment is now at $100.38 with an average assessment of $7,915.71 per parcel.
The Spring Valley City Council will meet on Monday, March 13 at 6 p.m. for the assessment hearing during which they will vote on the proposed assessment costs and award the project contract.
“We are kind of at the tail end of the project schedule before construction begins,” Weber explained.
When it comes to communication, there are several ways to get information. Newsletters will be sent out and the project website, clients.bolton-menk.com/springvalley2023, will soon be up and running. There is also the option to sign up for emails and texts, which will get residents the most up-to-date information.
For those looking for more information on what to expect during construction, a video can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?=iyFh4_3VpGY.
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