On May 13, the Houston City Council heard a presentation of the feasibility report on the 2025 Spruce Street utility and street improvements from project manager Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk. The project will be completed in cooperation with the county since the street is also CSAH 13.
Some portions of the street will just need to be resurfaced while the mid-section of the street will be rebuilt from the bottom up. The water main will be extended to homes currently with private wells.
The west end of Spruce Street is rural with no curb and gutter currently; this area will be reconstructed with compliant sidewalks.
West Spruce from Washington to Grant will be redone. The sanitary sewer is mostly an 8-inch vitrified clay pipe that is over 50 years old with roots, cracks and calcification causing cracks. The water system is 4-inch cast iron pipe also over 50 years old which is brittle, corroded and undersized for fire protection. There are five homes with lead service lines on the project.
In the reconstruction area, new base and asphalt pavement will be installed as well as concrete curb, gutter and driveway aprons. The street will be the same width and location. Five-foot wide concrete sidewalks will be poured.
In the repaving areas, the asphalt pavement will be replaced and sidewalk curb ramps will be done. This will have much less impact.
In reconstruction areas, a 8” PVC sewer pipe will be used, there will be reinforced concrete manholes and 6” service to the right-of-way lines. Storm sewers will be 30” reinforced concrete pipe. Sump basins at each lot will allow sump pump discharge to the storm sewer. Water main will be 8” PVC pipe with new hydrants and mainline valves and 1” service lines.
Estimated costs of the project total $2,597,384.61. The county share of the project will be $1,129,885.21, and the city share will be $1,467,499.40. The county will pay 58% of the storm sewer and curb and gutter costs as well as 100% of the street repaving and reconstruction. The city will be responsible for sanitary sewer reconstruction and services; water main extension, reconstruction and water services; lead service and replacement; city sidewalk and miscellaneous city improvements.
Funding for the county share of the project will be through state aid funds and property taxes. The city portion will come from the city’s capital projects fund, Public Facilities Authority (PFA) revolving fund loans and grants, a PFA lead service line replacement grant and the sale of local bonds.
Special assessments will be based on the frontage of property. Sanitary sewer, water main extension and water services will be at 100%. City sidewalk and curb and gutter will be at 50%. Preliminary estimated assessment rates for sewer are $3,792.56 per home; for water main extension: $9,388.71 per home; and water system $4,127.48 per home; city sidewalk is $39.96 per foot; curb and gutter is $14.15 per foot. These costs may go down once the expenses come in. A standard 100-foot lot would have a total assessment of $13,331 for sewer and water.
Trees will need to be removed; the full replacement of trees will be included in the project.
The council approved the feasibility report and set a neighborhood meeting for June 5 from 5-7 p.m. A public hearing is set for June 12 with the regular council meeting to follow.
Regular Business
In their regular business meeting, the council:
•Approved the summer rec hires and some additional as needed;
•Authorized the ordering of 25 new cellular water meters to replace failing outdated meters;
Included the lawn chair concerts in the list of events approved to allow food trucks;
•Issued a temporary liquor license for Hoedown Days;
•Accepted the donation of two apple trees for the campground/play area at the Nature Center;
•Approved the noxious weed report;
•Granted plant ecologists from the DNR permission to establish a monitoring plot in the city;
•Reviewed the on-hold status of the OHV trail; this remain on hold for another eight or nine years until the agreements expire so the land can be used for other purposes;
•Approved the purchase agreement with the Owl Center contingent on corrections; an easement agreement may be added once information is received from the U.S. Corps of Engineers with a closing date of June 3.
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