| Wyoming City Council OK’s utility improvements |  |  |
| Wednesday, 21 January 2009 | Alice Pickering
Wyoming Reporter
Wyoming City Council has granted approval for utility improvements along Wyoming Trail (CR-22) and Fallbrook Ave. The action was unanimous and came after a public hearing.
The action means that WSB, the city’s engineering firm, can begin preparation of plans and specifications for the projects.
At the hearing, City Engineer Mark Erichson repeated the presentation from the feasibility study in December.
The state has turned CR-22 back to Chisago County and provided turn-back funds to bring the road up to specifications. The county has until 2011 to use the funds for this purpose, or loose them.
As for the city, any improvements which it intends to make in these corridors should be coordinated and completed while the county is working on the road and before the road is paved. The feasibility study covers the plans and costs for Wyoming to complete its sewer, water main and storm water utilities in conjunction with road repairs, all before the final layer of pavement is put back on the road.
The city work planned includes 800 feet of street improvements on Fallbrook Ave. from 150 feet south of Viking. A storm sewer constructed by Chisago County will be extended from US-61, west to Fallbrook Ave. and then north to connect with the storm water main installed in 2000 as part of the Viking project.
The project will provide sanitary sewer and water main service to residents along Wyoming Trail from US-61 to Goodview Ave. and from Goodview Ave. to 263rd Street, for those who do not currently have city utilities. Water mains with six-inch diameter will be replaced with eight-inch diameter pipe.
A larger water main will extend along Wyoming Trail, anticipating a time when land north of the road is developed. An eight-inch main is also to be extended south along Goodview Ave. to 263rd Street to make a loop with other parts of the city system. Purpose of these water main improvements is to increase capacity and improve water pressure for fighting fires.
Sanitary sewer improvements mostly relate to replacement of pipe at a different depth due to a new county storm water sewer which is planned. Adjustments in structures will be made so the system can be maintained.
These projects will be coordinated with the county. The storm sewer will be upgraded to urban standards.
Of the proposed new construction, Erichson urged its inclusion because of the “large savings to do now rather than in the future.” For improvements from Freeport to Glen Oak Drive assessments are based on the number of lots on which homes can be built.
The cost
The new sewer and water lines are to be paid for with special assessments, with the balance to come from the city sewer and water fund. The city will pay for the sanitary lift station on the north side of CR-22 at the north end of Goodview.
Questions from residents were mostly about assessments and when they would be required to connect to the city utilities.
In answer to how assessments were determined, Erichson said an appraiser determined the benefit. Special assessments are the city policy based on how a property benefits by the improvements. He said “legally the city can’t assess more than what the benefit would be to the property.”
Erichson said assessing costs by lineal foot would cost homeowners twice as much as charging on a cost per unit. For the 28 lots, owned by 22 different individuals, assessments were estimated at $16,000 per lot. The water connect fee is $3100. The sanitary sewer connect fee is $3600.
Terms are different on Fallbrook Ave. Assessments here are $5500 per unit. Erichson anticipates $88,500 recovered from Fallbrook assessment.
Questions
Council member Russ Goudge asked why not consider installing sewer instead of water mains.
Erichson said the water main was included as part of the comprehensive plan. It also improves fire protection because the reliability of water pressure is improved when mains are looped.
He strongly recommended providing the water service.
Council member Roger Elmore said he understood about the trunk line, but wondered if residents could pay their assessments, but not hook-up to the water. He was less concerned with connecting to the water main. The city requires hook-up to city sewer within five years.
Construction of the water mains would also include stubbed pipes to property lines.
A resident on 264th, whose septic system is only nine years old, wanted to know if he would be required to connect to the system now or could do so in the future.
Council member Linda Yeager questioned if some city residents could be allowed to wait five years before connecting, with connect charges postponed until then.
Administrator Craig Mattson cautioned that the city carefully consider a policy of postponing water and sewer connection charges. Failing to do so would impact how enterprise funds are maintained. The enterprise funds generates income to help pay for infrastructure. The city currently is completing a rate study on water usage fees.
According to Mattson, the city will reimburse itself for the costs of the improvements from the proceeds of the tax exempt bond. For residents the terms for financing are estimates of $16,000 for 15 years, with 6 percent interest
The goal is to have the specifications ready as soon as possible, so the city can advertise for bids in February. Erichson indicated that if the bids can be included with the county project, it may be possible to have one contractor. The larger project would be a cost savings for both the city and county. |
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Alice Pickering
Wyoming Reporter
The feasibility study for the 257th Street construction and utility improvements was presented at a public hearing Jan. 20 and the plan was OK’d to move forward. The city advertised for bids last year but the project was not awarded.
The proposed improvements include a new urban street to recommended specifications regarding base and paving. A new storm sewer, 12-inch water main, new sanitary sewer main, new lift station, improvements to the existing Fallbrook lift station, and a traffic signal at US-61.
Total project cost is $2,966,560. The assessable cost is $2,910,000, with the city cost $56,560. Engineer Mark Erichson said the bids received in June 2008 were about $150,000 below the projected costs for the project.
Erichson said assessments were determined by Nicollet Partners. They revisited the assessments and believe the project is viable. There are 11 assessable parcels.
Special assessment is based on benefit received, from having the improvements made. The land is assessed based on the estimated increase in market value per appraisal. The assessments are proposed over 10 to 20 years.
Rudy and Mary Olson own two of the lots, or 12.47 percent of area. Their assessment is $455,000. Mary Olson said Fairview’s combined holdings total almost 54.80 acres, or 47.05 percent of the area, but the assessments total $260,000.
She believes the assessments are “very inequitable” and does not believe this issue is being handled correctly. If the project goes forward as planned, they do not believe they can afford to keep the lots, she said.
Land prices have dropped and the land is worth less (or will bring less at sale) that a year ago when the assessment report was completed, she said. Mrs. Olson explained that when comparing land values, using those values that are one year old is too long, with three months a more accurate and acceptable figure.
Rudy Olson observed that five stubs are proposed into the hospital land, but they are not being used. Erichson said this allows flexibility to determine where to connect water and sewer service.
Erichson addressed the difference in assessments to Fairview. The hospital already has access to utilities from other directions and there is no change in value on the land as a result of the improvements.
Other views
Curtis Lendt thought the project is too expensive and recommended a more conservative plan with a gravel street.
John Matheson of Xccent, referred to the $500,000 grant from the state to support the road and utilities. “No irregularities have been found,” he said. He owns one of the other assessed lots.
Council member Russ Goudge is in favor of the project and for a safer US-61 for the school and the neighborhood. He is concerned about the financial impact. Goudge proposed the city develop contingency plans.
Council member Linda Yeager asked if the Fairview parcels can be subdivided. She was concerned about the heavy financial burden on some and wondered if payments could be spread out longer.
Council member Roger Elmore is encouraged by Xccent locating in Wyoming, and acknowledged the financial climate will get “worse before it gets better.”
The land north of Heims Lake is zoned residential. City zoning maps do not show that because it was township land. City officials said land areas within the city as a result of the annexation are zoned residential.
The Xccent site, south of the Fairview Campus and east of the freeway is zoned planned industrial. North Lakes Academy, planned for the southwest corner of the intersection of the new 257th Street with US-61, is a permitted use in residential area In February, the planning commission begins its work to develop a unified zoning policy for the larger city and includes the annexed township.
After the discussion, the council approved the improvements and authorized preparation of plans and specifications for the 257th St. Project. Council also approved advertisement for bids with a bid opening scheduled March 10. Both votes were unanimous.
“You’re forcing us to sell it now,” Rudy Olson said.
More roads
In separate news about streets and roads within the city, Erichson touched on the Wyoming Trail improvements. WSB & Associates, Inc. and Chisago County are trying to work with MNDOT to include a signal light at the intersection of US-61 and Wyoming Trail, to tie in with the other road improvements. If these efforts fail, WSB and the county have applied for economic stimulus package funds to fund the signal light.
City improvements and upgrades for water mains, storm water mains, and sanitary sewer associated with the county project were approve at the last council meeting. These plans will be included with the county plans and advertised for bids together.
Montzka reports
Ben Montzka, chair of the Chisago County Board, greeted the new city council last week. Montzka spoke of a program to assist homeowners in the county. This is an attempt to slow foreclosures in the area.
Minnesota has 87 counties and a state study shows that five local counties are among the eight in the state with the highest mortgage foreclosure rates. Chisago is among them. Montzka said this is having an adverse impact on the regional economy. He said foreclosures are “holding down the economy in the region significantly.”
One goal is education of homeowners. Lutheran Social Services (1-800-777-7419) is encouraging homeowners to call for help before they fall far behind on their mortgages. The goal is to help them get refinancing, restructuring, work with them to avoid foreclosure. It is better for homeowners to stay in their homes, than to walk away and increase the number of vacant homes under bank ownership, adding to the flood of houses for sale, Montzka said.
David Boniface of the Chisago County HRA-EDA and the Chisago County Board will be meeting with banks to get recommendations. With this information they hope to reduce the foreclosure rate. If these can be avoided, the recession in this region can be shortened, Montzka said.
Montzka also announced a forum of the East Central Regional Development Commission, 8 a.m., Monday, Feb. 9, at the East Central Energy Headquarters in Braham. Local government leaders can meet with Congressman James Oberstar to discuss highway projects which may be eligible to federal stimulus dollars targeted for infrastructure.
Montzka and Mayor Sheldon Anderson plan to attend. Local projects which may be eligible for stimulus dollars are for a signal light at the intersection of Wyoming Trail and Highway 61. This is “something for safety’s sake,” Montzka said.
Other projects are the intersections at 250th Street and Highway 61 and CR-90 (Keystone and Manning Trail) which needs realignment. Montzka encouraged other local units of government to attend.
Montzka added that Kettle River Blvd. (CR-87) needs widening. His goal is to help keep the Chisago County levy constant, but this road needs to be widened to the existing right-of-way. With widening, at least a walking path or trail could be placed on one side of the road. The project is not approved yet, but Montzka is pushing for it.
New officer
Scott Boecker, Wyoming’s newest police officer, was sworn in at the Jan. 20 council meeting by Scott Dexter, Acting Police Chief.
Boecker comes to Wyoming with a year’s experience at the prison at Oak Park Heights and more recently from a position with the Washington County Waters, Parks, and Trails. His wife Lachele pinned on his new badge. Boecker’s mother, Sharon Tollakson, and his young daughter Taya watched the ceremony.
Reports
By a 5-0 vote the council accepted the comprehensive plan for the new city. After some discussion, it was amended with the modification that location of single-family residential is a potential use in areas within the city which are zoned for mixed-use.
Elmore reported that Mike Thomas has resigned from the planning commission. Frank Storm was elected as chairman of the group. Mark Lobermeir, formerly the alternate to the commission was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Yeager announced that the Rush Line Task Force has tentative plans to begin bus service, beginning at Running Aces Harness Track, with intermediate stops at the Forest Lake Transit Center and White Bear Theater park-and-ride, with the end of the line at Union Depot in St. Paul.
Yeager said the plans are very tentative, but said service would likely begin in June. Viewed much as the bus service from the transit center to downtown Minneapolis, this would be a demonstration route, likely with an introductory rate of $3 each way.
Other business
In other business on Jan 20, the council:
•Approved appointments of park board members for 2009: Bob Benyon, Liz Guimont, Shelly Elmore, Tammy Liledahl, Tim Patterson and Rita Pietruszewski.
•Selected March 20-21 as dates for a council retreat to establish a mission statement, vision, and goals for 2009-10.
•Tabled until Feb. 3 a decision about adopting the public works snow plowing policy.
•Tabled until Feb. 3 a decision on the amendments to the planning commission by-laws and the amount of compensation for the commissioners.
•Approved payment of the bills and payroll Jan. 7-20. |
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Library society's project doesn't merit city help, council decides, and new road assessments are 'defensible'
BY DENISE MARTIN
Most of the people at the Wyoming council room last week had an interest in either the public hearing on 257th Street, or in seeing what council did on a proposed project at the library. This night, everybody basically walked away from that council meeting disappointed.
Several Boy Scouts in uniform, troop leaders and others in the audience lent support for the Library Society's request for the city to partner with a non-profit group to do rain garden installation at the library.
The librarian explained that an ensuing volunteer gardening program would be tied to this project. A letter from the Wyoming Elementary school principal was submitted in support of the project. A Scout anticipating achieving his Eagle Scout, with community service as a part of this project, was also at the meeting.
After library society representative Sheree Vincent presented the materials and council had discussion the request for $10,000 from the charitable gambling account was denied 3-2 on Linda Nanko-Yeager's motion.
The city has about $30,000 in the fund, according to city staff. The money is from organizations permitted to run pulltabs, etc. in the city and is contributed based on profits.
Russell Goudge and Yeager were the yes votes, Mayor Sheldon Anderson, Roger Elmore and Joe Zerwas were opposed.
Vincent also shared news that the project won a $10,000 grant through Great River Greening to support the design and installation.
Great River Greening also partnered with Chisago County on stormwater projects at the County Govt. Center and with Chisago City for the Water Tower Park rain garden planting fall 2008. The mandate of the group is to enhance water quality within the watershed connected to the St. Croix River.
Mayor Anderson complained that Vincent should have involved the city earlier in the process. He felt the library group moved too independently, without park board or council input regarding this land the city owns.
Vincent reminded Mayor Anderson the city council got a heads-up many weeks ago that this was in the works. She'd asked council for a contribution towards ceiling fans in the library and was denied at that time, but she also told council about this landscaping effort.
Mayor Anderson then asked Vincent "...doesn't the county have any money?" (Chisago County built the branch library structures, but the cities where libraries are located operate them; with the exception of books, materials and staff which are regional library system costs.)
Vincent said county water plan coordinator Jerry Spetzman successfully helped write the Great River Greening grant for the library society. She said the county has been very helpful and involved in bringing this project together.
She also noted she has pledges in both cash and donated equipment-use from local businesses interested in making this project happen.
Vincent observed that the city set up the charitable gambling account to support "youth" and this project directly involves youth (Scouts).
In the future, she continued, it will be an example of non-traditional, more environmentally friendly urban landscaping. The project will also enhance the center of the city, a "pocket park" where people can connect. It eliminates use of fuel and labor for lawn mowers and eliminates herbicide and fertilizer applications usually involved in sod-based landscape. Its proximity to a Sunrise River tributary is also reason to support it.
Vincent added that when developers need information or examples of sustainable landscape as part of their plats-- the city government can literally be an example.
Council members Zerwas and Elmore said they'd rather see the city's charitable gambling funding go towards playground equipment or other needs in established parks. "Ten thousand can go a long way in the parks," Elmore observed.
After the vote, Council member Goudge asked the council if it wished to refer the library project to a park board agenda, so parks people could review it and make a recommendation.
Mayor Anderson responded, "They (parks) can put anything on their agenda they want."
The 257th Street hearing was conducted just before the library presentation. The city wants to build a new street on the north side of Heims Lake, off #61, that will serve currently landlocked parcels and a new business locating near the freeway.
According to the city engineer, in order to keep on-schedule, council needed to approve creation of specs and bid documents at this meeting. Manufacturer Xccent plans to break ground on its new facility at the end of 257th in spring, according to John Mathison of Xccent.
Council was basically told by the major land owners along the assessable project that there will be a lawsuit. Rudy and Mary Olson explained that the real estate benefit analysis supporting the levels of assessment is obsolete. They also felt Fairview Healthcare (with large lots along the north edge of 257th) was being assessed too little.
Engineer Mark Erichson explained that the Fairview campus already has sewer and water and this project does nothing to impact that. The new street does create southerly street access for the Fairview campus and a controlled intersection.
Resident Curtis Lendt observed during public comment that the city could reduce the cost downsizing to a gravel road and extending the city services to Xccent and other vacant properties. Lendt said, "You could improve the road later; when these people might be able to sell their land at a value high enough to cover these assessments."
City Administrator Craig Mattson assured council the Nicollet Partners benefits analysis is "defensible" and "reliable" should there be a court appeal of assessment.
Council voted 5-0 to direct plans and specs to move ahead. Bids could be opened Feb 20.
Police Officer Boecker was sworn in at the meeting start.
Jan. 24 was declared "Myrtle Richardson Day." Mayor Anderson explained she is turning 105 on this day and he'd met her last fall and promised to do something special for her. Richardson was born in North Branch and lived on a Linwood area farm most of her adult life. All Content © 2009, All Rights Reserved
Chisago County Press
P.O. Box 748
Lindstrom, MN 55045
Telephone: 651-257-5115 |
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