CC MINUTES 06041974 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-3- The traffic counts made each year since 1961 on 29th Avenue were the basis for y the recommendation for a 9 ton road. Mr. Comstock said, and the only east-west • street in St. Anthony which exceeded the traffic count on 29th was 37th Avenue N.E. where the traffic flow was almost double. Mr. Dulgar reported that his contacts with the State regarding the possibility of restricting truck traffic on a state aid street indicated that the municipalit- ies who put up "No Trucks" signs on such streets were "flirting with a court case". Councilman Sundland questioned whether any action was feasible before the Engineer had an opportunity to investigate the alternatives with the State. Mayor Miedtke pointed out the urgency of some repair work and said if the road had to be continuously repaired it seemed logical to him to bring the total street up to good quality at the same time. When Councilman Sundland asked what the potential life of the street would be if the trouble spots were dug out and a seal coat put on the whole street, Mr. Dulgar advised him that the last seal coat was placed on 29th in 197 . Mayor Miedtke wanted the Engineer to be directed to negotiate with the State for a 39 foot street using the argument that such a street would be less expensive and yet that width would not place a restriction on traffic. He expressed a reluctance to restrict parking on 29th because of the possibility of limiting the parking space for Silver Point Park and was concerned about where traffic would be diverted if 29th were no longer a major thoroughfare. In reply to a question from Councilman Stauffer, Mr. Dulgar said about $5,000 per mile is budgeted each year for maintenance costs which include plowing, salaries and pensions, signs, etc. He said Councilman Sauer had asked him if the state funds could be obtained for the construction if the work were done by the St. Anthony Maintenance Department and he replied because they could not work on the project exclusively, even though the state would allow the department to do the job, it might take at least six months longer to complete the job and would result in the street being torn up for a longer time. He also answered Councilman's Stauffer's question of whether a street improvement fund could be built up to cover future improvements throughout the municipality by saying that, under levy restrictions , there were only enough funds to cover work actually needed to be done and funds could not be levied in addition to cover potential improvements. Councilman Sauer arrived at 9:45 P.M. In the discussion of what the actual assessment figures per front foot would be made to residents of 29th Avenue, the Engineer told the group that, with no state aid, the recommended 9 ton, 40 foot wide road with the necessary 600 feet dug up and 1,200 feet of gutters replaced, would cost each resident $40 per front foot. If the $140,000 which St. Anthony has in its state aid conbtruction fund were applied to the $271,000 improvement it would reduce those costs to residents of 29th. The Council then pursued the possibility of assessing all residents on 29th at a • rate of $23.70 per front foot, the amount considered as typical front foot assessment for residents on an average street and then having the $17.00 per front foot which remained either picked up by assessing the residents on the adjacent streets to 29th Avenue or the community as a whole. The prospects of crediting the home owners with $8.00 for curb and gutters which did not need replacing was also discussed.