RC proceeds with NE area improvements

By MaryHelen Swanson
Removing and replacing old water lines that contain lead parts is only one part of the large improvement project that Rush City will embark on this summer.
The city will also replace sanitary sewer lines, address storm water drainage and make street improvements in the northeast portion of the city, one of the oldest sections in town.
A special assessment hearing was held in February where about one-third of the residents affected by this summerís project showed up to hear the facts and ask questions.
There was little objection to the project, but there was concern about assessment costs which will vary according to the amount of work done by each residentsí property.
Still, one man summed it up by saying, ìHeaven knows it needs to be done.î The council agreed and unanimously approved proceeding with the project.
The scope of the project includes portions of First, Second and Third Streets, Dana Avenue, and Alger Avenue.
Initially, the project was planned in 1999, but was never carried out.
At that time, it included Bremer Avenue and Colfax Street improvements, but that work was pulled from the project and done last summer.
Today, total estimated costs for the water main, sewer, storm sewer and street improvements has been set at $1,364,000.
Financing will come from a combination of sources, including a Public Facilities Authority (PFA) loan, general obligation bonds and special assessments to benefiting properties.
Sanitary sewer and water main improvements will be funded by the city, including water main oversizing costs which are considered a capital improvement.
Sanitary sewer service replacement will be assessed to the property owners as will the water main service replacements.
Street improvements, including curb and gutter, will be assessed on a front foot basis to the property owners.
The storm sewer improvements on Alger Avenue will be assessed to the property owners, also on a 20 cents per square foot area basis.
ìThe cityís goal is to improve the area,î said Mayor Mike Skalsky.
Robert Moberg, the cityís engineering consultant from Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH), concluded that the project is feasible and necessary.
He said the street and storm sewer improvements are necessary and cost-effective to improve drainage, road condition and safety.
Water and sewer line improvements, he said, are necessary to eliminate a potential health hazard, because of the lead joint on water mains, and to improve fire protection.
Street improvements will include partial reconstruction of Dan Avenue between First and Second street.
First Street between Dana and the railroad will be reconstructed in the area that is disturbed by the utility construction.
Second and Third Streets between Bremer and Alger will be reconstructed to an urban section with a black-topped surface and concrete curb and gutter on both sides.
The sidewalk on Third Street will will be removed and not replaced.
Alger Avenue between Hwy. 361 and First Street will be reconstructed to a black-topped rural road, 28 feet wide with two-foot gravel shoulders.
The existing concrete pavement on the north end will be removed and 300 feet will be graded to the Hwy. 361 ditch while the remainder of the road will be graded to drain southerly to First Street.
Alger between First Street and Third Street will be reconstructed as an urban section with a bituminous surface and concrete curb and gutter on both sides. It will be 32-feet wide.
Between Third and Fourth Streets, Alger will be reconstructed to an urban section as above, but will be 24-feet wide because of existing buildings.
Between Fourth and the Rush Creek foot bridge, Alger will have a six-foot wide bituminous walk installed.
Portions of Bremer Avenue, Second Street and Fourth Street will be reconstructed as part of the utility trench restoration project.
These street improvements are needed, engineer Moberg said, because of the poor existing conditions and because most will be extensively disturbed by the utility construction.
According to the project timetable, construction work will begin sometime in May. A final assessment hearing will be held in fall, at which time property owners should know their exact assessments. The amounts cannot exceed the estimated costs from the preliminary hearing, but they can be less.
Assessments can be paid all at once or placed on the property tax statement. Taxpayers can take up to 15 years to pay off on the taxes.
Moberg said the construction market is very competitive right now and he feels the costs will be less than estimated.
Mayor Skalsky told the 14 homeowners in attendance that while the city anticipates lower costs, there is no guarantee.
At the March 10 council meeting, the city council approved proceeding with the bid process for the project. Bid opening is set for April 8.
City engineer Moberg expects there will be a lot of bids on the project.

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