Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/08/1988 Council Minutes1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 8, 1988 Mayor Benson opened the Work Session August 8, 1988 at 6:30 P.M. Council Members present: Neal, Bisel, Bohjanen. Mr. Reinert arrived at 6:40 P.M. Council Members absent: None. City Administrator, Randy Schumacher; Engineer, Ron Stahlberg; Attorney, Bill Hawkins and Clerk - Treasurer, Marilyn Anderson were also present. Mayor Benson explained that the purpose of the meeting was to consider an alternative route for 2nd Avenue. Mr. Stahlberg first updated the Council regarding a meeting he attended with officers from St. Joseph Catholic Church regarding their property on the south side of Elm Street and just north of Sunrise Meadows. A task force has been formed by the church to determine just exactly what they will do with the land. Mr. Stahlberg explained that when the Council ordered the feasibility study it was expected that 2nd Avenue would follow its current route. However soil tests have indicated that will be a very expensive route if indeed it can be constructed. Also there is the question of whether or not the DNR would issue permits for the current site through the wetlands. In the interim Mr. Menkveld, developer of Sunrise Meadows has received final plat approval from the City and is now awaiting utilities to be extended to the site. Mr. Stahlberg explained that he has looked at rerouting 2nd Avenue to the west and showed a map with a possible location for the street. He explained that a centerline has been established for the street and soil tests indicate that the area -would be less expensive than the current route. Mr. Stahlberg explained he had looked at shifting the state aid road from 2nd Avenue to Sunrise Drive. He was unsure if the state aid could be shifted. Mr. Stahlberg explained that if the state aid road is constructed in the proposed location the cost would be approximately $732,000. If it is constructed on the current 2nd Avenue the cost would be $1,000,000 + and if it were to be constructed up Sunrise Drive the cost would be $857,000. Mr. Bisel said that looking at Sunrise Drive was looking the wrong way. He felt the route should be up Lake Drive. Mr. Stahlberg explained that would cause a problem because it PAGE 1 151 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 8, 1988 would limit ways to radiate out the facilities. Mr. Bisel felt there was more potential for commercial development if the facilities were constructed up Lake Drive. He asked Mr. Stahlberg why the lift station was constructed at its present location and why the bad soil conditions on 2nd Avenue were not detected prior to this time. He was concerned because situations such as this result in added costs to an improvement. Mr. Neal said he had heard that some residents along Lake Drive would be petitioning for utilities. Nothing has been delivered to city hall. Mayor Benson asked what are the feelings of the property owners along the proposed road site? Mr. Stahlberg felt that they would probably object. There was discussion regarding what the affect of the new location would be on the property owners. Mr. Reinert asked what the primary focus is regarding extension of utilities at this time. He asked if it was to benefit residential development? He noted that there is no firm commitment on commercial development at this time. He asked if the Council should reconsider and not extend any utility services until there are some firm commitments from commercial developers. Mr. Stahlberg explained that there has been two commitments and one is the prison. Mr. Bisel asked that Mr. Stahlberg prepare cost estimates for extending services on the new 2nd Avenue location and for extending services up Lake Drive. Mayor Benson asked how far up Lake Drive would services have to be extended before they could go west? Mr. Stahlberg explained and also noted that probably would affect the state aid status of 2nd Avenue. He said the easiest route is his proposal. There was discussion regarding the people along the current 2nd Avenue who were already assessed for utility availability. Mr. Hawkins explained that there would not be a problem if they do receive services in a reasonable period of time. Mr. Bisel expressed his concern because of two problems that have occurred recently and are proving to be costly. The first problem concerned the waterline crossing at Rice Creek PAGE 2 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 8, 1988 and now the second problem is the apparent inability to reconstruct the current 2nd Avenue. Mr. Stahlberg said that he would analyze the proposed alternate 2nd Avenue route and the possibility of extending services up Lake Drive and determine how each would affect the state aid process and also prepare cost estimates. He also will determine how each route would affect the ability to service the Sunrise area in the future. Mayor Benson asked the staff to check and see if there may be a petition coming from the Lake Drive area. Mr. Bisel moved to adjourn at 7:07 F.M. Mr. Bohjanen seconded the motion. Aye. These minutes were considered and approved at a regular council meeting on August 22, 1988. -:✓ a G. ANDERSON BENJAMIN G. BENSON Clerk- Treasurer PAGE 3 Mayor