Loading...
05-10-1989 CCMMINUTES SPECIAL MEETING - HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1989 The special meeting was called to order by Mayor Ackland at 7:00 P.M. in the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria. The following were present: Mayor Paul L. Ack- land, Aldermen Mike Carls, John Mlinar, Marlin Torgerson and Pat Mikulecky. Also present: Consultant Engineer Marlow V. Priebe and City Attorney G. Barry Anderson (late). PUBLIC HBARITGB LETTING NO. 5 PROJECT NO. 89-15 A. BLUFF STREET IMPROVEMENTS Mayor Ackland called the hearing to order and read Publication No. 3983. Engineer Priebe reviewed the engineer report and presented information re- garding the project. He stated the City was coordinating the projects for a cost savings. Also, additional funds were available to reduce the cost. The improvements will be done in phases, with Phase I being the storm sewer in the Bluff Street area. Phases II and III will be separate projects and will be done at a later time. The estimated cost was 17 cents/sq. ft. for Phase I. It was pointed out that the county road would be widened to meet the new standards of four feet on each side, including new curb and gutter, surfac- ing and base according to state aid standards. The project will go as far as HTI, and the county road will be rebuilt in the future when feasible. The bulk of the improvement work will be done on Bluff Street. Norman Bowen, 218 Fifth Avenue N.E., commented he would be stuck for one part of the project, the storm sewer. He inquired how long he would have to pay it off and at what interest rate. He wondered if the first phase people would be stuck again for phase two. Mr. Bowen inquired if HTI caused any problem with their manufacturing for the sewer system. Engineer Priebe stated that HTI had improved the area with their ponding, etc. The combination of those within the city would be hit twice. Jeff Horrocks, 456 Bluff Street, asked what the work done last year had to do with this project. He questioned if the previous work would be torn out and redone or was it considered done. Engineer Priebe stated it will be rebuilt there also as only repair was done before. The city will have to move the gas main and sanitary sewer and put in storm sewer in the right-of-way. The storm sewer is at such a depth that it is being put where normally the sanitary sewer goes. The street that was repaired is part of the overall construction. There was -some work done sev- eral years ago by the county and city that was on a temporary basis. An unidentified man commented he had not seen an assessment for the work 1 �' CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MAY 10, 1989 from last summer. He asked if there would be an assessment coming. The answer was "no." He wondered if the water main would be replaced because of its location. Engineer Priebe stated the water mains and sanitary sewer lines would be relocated to make room for the storm sewer. Ralph Hakel, 525 Bluff Street, raised a question regarding the storm sewer. He was not questioning the street project as yet. One of his main concerns was that the assessment included curb and gutter, etc. Since he has lived on Bluff, it has been torn up two or three times, if not more often. He has had two sidewalks that were chopped off. When it was cut down three feet, about 10-12 feet of his sidewalk was cut off, and he paid for the replace- ment. Then when the gas line went through, he paid the expense of putting it back in. He is assuming the city will widen the street this time. Mr. Hakel now has a cement driveway so it will undoubtedly be cut off. He asked if it would have a good clean cut and be tied in with a rod so it is a de- cent job when finished. Mr. Hakel stated he built his house in 1951 and has lived there 60 plus years. Mr. Hakel stated the curb and gutter had been assessed once. Engineer Priebe answered that the two went together. However, he was not sure if Mr. Hakel was talking about the water shed or the street since he had a fair amount of footage on that street. Mr. Priebe asked when it was reconstructed as the county has not done any reconstruction since 1967. The Engineer stated the street improvement assessment would be a maximum of $20/front foot and five cents/sq. ft. maximum for storm sewer. He stated the city would not assess for anything other than a residential street, which would cut the cost about 50 percent. Gary Clyne, 466 Bluff Street, commented he had talked to the Engineer about a week ago regarding the retaining wall. He inquired how far it would go down Highway 7. Engineer Priebe stated the wall would start at the bottom of the hill and go up. Unidentified man questioned if stop and go lights would go in at Bluff and Highway 7. Also, he asked if there would be a retaining wall on the other side of the street. Engineer Priebe stated the lights will not go in this year; however, the underground conduit will be installed in preparation for the future signal lights. There will not be a retaining wall on the other side of the street, but rather a built up area. Sumiko Nelson, 476 Bluff, reported that a neighbor lady got a permit to build a garage. Once the project goes through, she won't be able to park in front of it. Mayor Ackland stated the city staff would check into it. Ralph Hakel, 525 Bluff, asked if there was a storm sewer in now. Engineer Priebe stated the county tile took care of the water. It runs under 12 homes on the east or west of Bluff Street. Wesley Anderson, 153 Fifth Ave. NE, asked where all the water was and if K CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - MAY 10, 1989 there were houses on Fifth and Clark that were complaining about water in the basement or was the problem on 12th. He stated his garden was the lowest place on the block, and he had no problem with water sitting there. He wondered why all this work was being done in his area when the problem was up the street. Engineer Priebe stated they were not the property owners with the problem. The system is hydraulically overloaded, and water is coming out in other basements. A future project is planned to resolve this surface water prob- lem. The present situation concerns a problem with the system built in 1913. There have been more run-offs since driveways, curbs, etc., were built. Mr. Anderson inquired where the hydraulic water was coming from. Engineer Priebe responded that the pipe was too small. Mayor Ackland reported he had visited two properties with water problems. The system was not built to handle run-off from the streets; it was built as farm tile. Norman Bowen, 218 Fifth Ave. NE, asked if the work being done was going to be sufficient for the future when the service goes past HTI. He wondered if the city had any cost, or if the cost was split between city and county. Elizabeth Felska, 632 Bluff Street, stated that she understood from the last meeting that anyone 65 and over could defer assessments until the property was sold. Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Trustee Don Schumacher, asked what benefit the project would be to the church. They have no water problems, and the water and sewer was put in about four years ago. He asked if the church would be assessed for the work and if the church school could start in September. Engineer Priebe responded that the water would stay in its present condi- tion. Otherwise, there would be no charge for any change. The curb and gutter will go to the end. The drainage includes whatever area is proposed for the project. The estimated cost is $20/front foot. Some property on the west side of the road is being considered at this time. The church property is located on the border line of the project and could start classes in the fall. Robert McGee, 173 Fifth Ave. NE, questioned why the project would go down the alley on Fifth Avenue. The Consultant Engineer stated it was for re- placement with a new line for proper drainage. Randy Anderson, 566 Bluff Street, commented on the proposed drainage in back of his property. He requested a change in the location of the catch basin to be located in the alleyway of the 500 block on Bluff Street. It would be more effective at the north end of Kids, Inc. property as this is the low- est point of the block. He would be willing to grant a rear yard easement for the extension of the catch basin to north property line of Kids, Inc. 3 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - MAY 10, 1989 Mr. Anderson inquired if the Bluff Street and alley construction would take place at the same time. Engineer Priebe stated access on Bluff Street will not be there when it is torn up. The alleyway can be handled so that it does not have to be done at the same time. Minnie Albrecht, 428 High Street, wondered why everyone on the block was to pay for the storm sewer lines. She stated she paid for curb and gutter and storm sewer in the last few years. Since she is retired, it would be diffi- cult to pay the assessments. When the curb and gutter was put in, she was not sent a statement. Instead, the assessment was put on her taxes, and she had to pay interest. Engineer Priebe commented that the project tied into the old line. He thought it was a sanitary sewer assessment she had previously paid. Anita Dallman, 565 Clark Street, stated she was curious about Randy Anderson wanting the sewer line to go to the back of his property. She asked if the request was approved, would the other affected property owners get an addi- tional assessment. Leonard Frederickson, 245 Fifth Ave. NE, remarked that he had a large lot and wondered if the assessment would be bigger than 5 cents/sq. ft. for the storm sewer. He commented that the existing problem had been overlooked for a long time, and now something has to be done. He thought the city should bear a greater part of the cost because it procrastinated for many years. Consultant Priebe stated the county had been just as much at fault in not correcting the situation. Now both entities had worked out a solution to the problem with the proposed project. Mayor Ackland commented on the county ditch system and stated that if the project goes through, the county ditch will be abandoned. Ralph Hakel, 525 Bluff, asked if the street would be widened and the boule- vard reduced. He also inquired about sloping and sodding. Engineer Priebe responded that the widening of the street is determined by the project. Since Bluff Street is a county state aid highway, the highway department determined that type of street to be a 48 foot width. The city has to meet their standards to receive funding for the project. Since the project will be within the right-of-way limits, the ground will be returned to its orig- inal state. Mike Smithers, 262 Sixth Ave. NE, stated he lives on the line and wondered why they were not included. He commented that the HTI pond dumped into the county ditch, and Rockite used to dump into the tile. Engineer Priebe stated that Rockite had concrete in their water and blocked off the water flow. Therefore, they were no longer included. 4 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - MAY 10, 1989 Unidentified lady reported that she was assessed for the storm sewer in 1962. She asked if she would be given credit at this time. Engineer Priebe stated that past policy, and present policy, is to give pro- per credit for what is being done now. If an improvement is being rebuilt because it is worn out, it has to be looked at, The city is only at a proj- ect hearing and not an assessment hearing. The hearing notices will correct any charges before the project is approved Carol Mortenson, 575 Clark St., commented that Randy Anderson wanted the tile extended to the rear of his property. She was aware that he was in- stalling a concrete parking area on his property to help eliminate his water problem. She asked if Mr. Anderson would still have to put concrete curb on the rear of his parking lot. The Consultant Engineer stated it was his recommendation to put the concrete curb in as this would be the best way to handle it. The earth berm would be an alternative to the curbing for controlling storm water runoff and have the same effect. Unidentified man asked if the project would start in July. Engineer Priebe stated he could not give a schedule at this time. He is working on the plans, which will be submitted to the State Aid Department in St. Paul for review. Jim Hulkonen, 555 Bluff Street, commented on the stakes that are up. Engin- eer Priebe stated the stakes were for control of the survey and not markers where the curb was going. The location of the curb has not been staked yet. Mayor Ackland remarked that the city will obtain bids and hold an assessment hearing. Therefore, notices will be sent out stating the exact amount to be assessed to the property owners. The project could still be rejected if the costs are too high. Alderman Mikulecky moved to close the hearing at 8:25 P.M. Motion seconded by Alderman Mlinar and unanimously carried. B. WALLER DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS Mayor Ackland called the hearing to order and read Publication No. 3984. Sid Grams, 645 Waller Drive, commented that he built his apartment building in the area last year. He was assessed for his portion of the sewer project in 1988. The street project cannot be finished until the sewer project is completed. Mayor Ackland stated that the subdivision agreement spelled out the assess- ment procedure. This project is being considered because the underground needs to be done in order to complete the project. Ethel Klima, 647 Bluff Street, wondered how much she would be assessed since 5 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - MAY 10, 1989 her curb and gutter are already in. Engineer Priebe reported she would not be assessed. Anyone not included in the project would be removed from the assessment roll. A letter was received from Alvin Exsted, Silver Lake, in which he objected to the proposed storm sewer on Waller Drive. He stated it would not be of any benefit to his property and should not, therefore, be assessed for it. Alderman Mlinar moved to close the hearing at 8:30 P.M. Motion seconded by Alderman Mikulecky and unanimously carried. C. CARLISLE STREET IMPROVEMENTS Mayor Ackland called the hearing to order and read Publication No. 3985. Engineer Priebe reviewed the proposed project. It was reported that water is being handled in the old county tile. The city will tie into the present system on Fifth but not into the system on Bluff Street. The line will run from the south end of Carlisle to Sixth Street and Prospect down to the river. The biggest share of the project cost will be city expense. Lynn Schuetze, 544 Carlisle Street, stated she lives on the circle, and in back of her property is a catch basin. She asked if it would be filled in. Ms. Schuetze inquired if the city would start this project at the same time as the Bluff Street project. Engineer Priebe commented that the catch basin would not be touched. Charles Burich, 583 Carlisle Street, asked about the street and wondered if it was going to be blacktopped. There has never been a curb and gutter. He commented the Carlisle project had been put off time and time again. Engineer Priebe stated this was only a storm sewer project which tied in with the Bluff Street project. Once the storm sewer is in, the City Coun- cil would be open to a petition for curb and gutter and surfacing. The area was not ready for surfacing previously because of drainage problems; but it will be considered for 1990. The city preferred not to do two projects at one time. The dirt needed to be stabilized. He felt it was best to wait a year on the trench. A letter was received from Sylvia Mielke, 593 Carlisle Street, in which she objected to the project due to the cost involved. Alderman Mlinar moved to close the hearing at 8:40 P.M. Motion seconded by Alderman Mikulecky and unanimously carried. Following discussion, Alderman Carls moved to approve and order improvement project, call for preparation of plans and specifications, waive reading and adopt Resolution No. 9001. Motion seconded by Alderman Torgerson and unan- imously carried. The public hearing adjourned at 8:45 P.M. ON