The Rushford City Council held a public hearing Tuesday, November 13, during the regularly scheduled council meeting, for the purpose of providing details and hearing resident feedback for a proposed street and utility improvement project. The project is tentatively scheduled for spring 2019. City Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, was present at the meeting to discuss the scope and timeline.
The project planning began in late 2017 when the city reviewed the Capital Improvement Plan. At the time, funds were budgeted for a street project costing just shy of $2 million. Earlier this year, data on street conditions, water mains, sanitary and storm sewers was analyzed to determine which areas were in poorest condition. Selected for the base project area were East Grove, Walnut, and North Burr Oak Streets. A special project on Lamplighter Lane will also be included.
“We were trying to put together a project that fit the parameters,” stated Olinger. Following determination of the project area, a feasibility study was conducted.
Olinger didn’t mince words when it came to condition of the streets and utilities in the area. Streets are heavily deteriorated. The water main, while installed in the 1940-1950s, is cast iron with a tendency to be brittle and weak. Sanitary sewers, in poor condition and undersized, are some of the oldest in the city. The storm sewers are non-existent, except for some along the levee.
Plans for the base project include reconstruction of the streets, including the aggregate base and installation of curb and gutter, while proposed utility work will include all new water main and sanitary sewer from the main to the right of way. Storm sewers, with several inlets, will be installed, capturing water flowing down Grove Street from the levee east to Money Creek Street.
The estimated for a cost is $1.99 million and will be paid for by general obligation bond and property owner assessment. The city’s assessment policy allows for street, water, sanitary projects to be assessed at up to 30% of the total project cost. Storm sewer costs are 10% city cost, while any sidewalks are 100% property owner cost. With proposed assessments coming in higher than expected, the city is opting for a reduced rate assessment closer to 20%.
The Lamplighter Lane project was discussed in great detail for the last year and determination was made to reclaim the steep, two-home road, but make no utility improvements. Total project cost is $83,000, which will be paid for out of the Capital Projects Fund.
A neighborhood meeting was held November 1 and went well according to Olinger and City Administrator Tony Chladek. “It started larger and we had to dial back. The scoring process was a huge component,” said Chladek. “With the scoring, scope, and resources there was no doubt these were our projects.”
It was stressed that costs estimate pricing is based on comparable projects, but once the project is bid out, actual project cost and assessment numbers will be known. “Like you, we’re hoping the bids come in low,” added Chladek. The assessment will be added to tax rolls in the fall of 2019 for taxes payable 2020. Property owners have the option to make a full or partial payment prior to November 2019. Once it’s on the taxes, only full payments on the balance can be made.
The topic of sidewalks in the project area were discussed at length. Currently, sidewalks in the area are either in poor condition or non-existent. The council opted to remove the small sections of poor sidewalks rather than replace them. The council approved moving forward with plans and specs for the projects unanimously.
In other news, Councilor Jim O’Donnell, who sits on the Library Board, made it known that Library Director Susan Hart has tendered notice of her retirement effective March 19, 2019. Hart has been a powerful advocate for the library and has served the community in the role for more than 20 years.
The Library Board is forming a hiring committee and will be meeting November 29 to discuss the next steps. While the board has the authority to hire the new director, it is expected their choice for replacement will be brought before the city council as soon as a decision is made.
During reports, Administrator Chladek interjected his thoughts related to the R-P School District’s redevelopment of the former elementary and high school facilities in Rushford and a Plan B option the city is waiting on. The district has a proposed redevelopment opportunity, but details have been slow to emerge. The site was vacated by the district in the summer of 2017. “The public has an interest in what’s there,” stressed Chladek.
“What we would like to see is housing developed over there. I don’t think it’s been talked about publicly enough. It’s time to let them know there is another plan for over there, should this prospect not turn out,” he added. “Let them kick every can, turn every stone; from our perspective, because we know the benefit of housing, it would be in the best interest of the city to develop it for housing.”
“We need to engage the public about envisioning something else there and it has to start. It’s time to take folks off the hook and start exploring other options. The facts, data, and resources are just not matching up. It’s time to have a public conversation about it.”
Councilor Sally Ryman noted that half of the school board will be new members, come January, and they will need to be brought up to speed. “It’s not what we want to see on that site; it’s what the data is saying we need on that site.”
“There is a timeline of when there’s supposed to be a decision,” added City Clerk Kathy Zacher. “I think they’re working through Peterson first, then the other. I think perhaps one hinges on the other.”
Several on the council mentioned citizens asking them when the city would be tackling the project, only to clarify that the city does not own the property, but rather it is owned by the school district. “We’ve talked about this, but I don’t know if we’ve ever said, ‘We have a different vision for the site,’” said Chladek. “Let’s see what the big reaction might be. Maybe that’ll help us better engage the public.”
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, November 26, at 6:30 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
Leave a Reply