Public hearings on street projects Monday

By Wallace Alcorn | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Albert Lea City Council on Monday will have public hearings about the final assessments for four of the city’s street improvement projects finished this year.

The first, which involved the reconstruction of Ridge Road from The Fairway to Garden Road, cost about $228,000, of which 45 percent is assessable to adjacent property owners and 55 percent is city cost.

It included the removal and replacement of the aggregate base, curb and gutter, bituminous and water main.

The second project involved the reconstruction of St. Mary Avenue from West Main Street to William Street, and William Street from St. Mary Avenue to Washington Avenue. The water main, sanitary sewer and storm water sewer were also replaced.

The total project cost was about $403,000, with almost $100,000 being assessable to adjacent property owners.

The third project, which involved the construction of Wedgewood

Road, cost about $591,000, with about $70,000 being assessable, $74,000 being held for future assessment and $447,000 being city cost.

Lastly, the fourth project involved the bituminous overlay of residential streets in the northwest part of the city and Keystone Drive. The total centerline footage of the project was 2.5 miles.

Bids came in lower than the engineer’s estimate, resulting in assessments being 24 percent lower than proposed. The total cost was about $500,000.

How the council decides to allocate the sidewalk costs to the adjacent homeowners will determine the assessments.

During the Monday meeting, the council will also:

•Hear a request from American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 to hang an illuminated electronic messaging sign on the front of the Legion building, which is in the National Historic District, on North Broadway Avenue.

The Heritage Preservation District recently denied the request as not conforming to the district.

•Vote whether to accept the bid and award the contract for the sanitary sewer force main project on State Highway 13.

Eight bids, ranging from about $247,000 to about $325,000, were received.

The lowest bid was submitted by Ryan Contracting Company, Elko.

•Vote whether to approve a resolution that would adopt an identity theft prevention program.

The program will assist personnel with spotting red flags — including suspicious documents, suspicious personal identifying information and suspicious account activity — on customer transactions that may lead to identity theft.

It is required for every financial institution or creditor under the Federal Trade Commission. According to the rule municipalities are included.

•Hear a request from American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 to host the annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. The parade would begin at the Legion building and go south on Broadway to end at the Freeborn County Veteran’s Memorial.

•Have the second reading of a proposed amendment regarding the ordinance about delinquent taxes.

The amendment clarifies that liquor licenses will not be granted or renewed if there are taxes, assessments or installments that are delinquent.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---