Assessments slated to be paid back over 10 years

The Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved a series of public hearings next month on final assessments for city projects.

Public hearings were called for the Oct. 10 Albert Lea City Council meeting for the following projects:

St. John’s Lutheran Community extension project. Assessments for two property owners along West Edgewater Drive are set for 10 years at 3.52 percent interest. The project includes the construction of a sanitary sewer lift station, water main, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and bituminous and gravel street construction to service the new St. John’s on Fountain Lake facility.

“This project also lays the groundwork for infrastructure to a subdivision called the Stables area north of Edgewater Park, and provides future service to properties along Country Club Road,” Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said in a report, noting the design will accommodate the future extension of the sanitary sewer and water main along Freeborn County Road 20 to the West Plaza Street area.

• Lake Chapeau Drive improvement project. Assessments for 11 private properties are over 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes bituminous reclamation, new bituminous pavement, shouldering, installing a centerline culvert for the main entrance road to City Arena and Lake Chapeau residential subdivisions and drainage work, which included the replacement of a centerline culvert near a stormwater pond.

• Edgewater Drive and parking lots reconstruction. Assessments are for 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes the reconstruction of bituminous surfaces on Edgewater Drive from Lakeview Boulevard through Edgewater Park and from the Edgewater Park bandshell and the shared user trail from the bandshell to the lower Edgewater Park parking lot.

• Virginia Place construction. Assessments for Virginia Place from Fourth Street to Seventh Street to Seventh Street and Fifth Street from U.S. Highway 65 to St. John Avenue are for 10 years at 4.52 percent interest. The project includes the total reconstruction of Fifth Street from Broadway to St. John Avenue, including removing and replacing concrete curb and gutter, subgrade correction, water main, sanitary and storm sewer and sidewalk replacement and the installation of drain tile of Virginia Place from Fourth Street to Seventh Street.

• Park Avenue, Grace Street, Mariners Lane and Harriet Lane reconstruction. Assessments for the project are over 10 years at 3.42 percent. The project includes the complete reconstruction of Park Avenue, Mariners Lane, Harriet Lane and Grace Street.

• Sewer main construction. Assessments for the project are over 15 years at 4.1 percent interest. The project includes the construction of a 12-inch sanitary sewer main for service of 16 parcels in the Hills Garden area and the future service of 202 acres south of Freeborn County Road 46 in an undeveloped area.

• Neighborhood improvement project in the east-central area of Albert Lea. Assessments are over 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes bituminous overlaying, reconstruction, miscellaneous and total curb replacement and miscellaneous sidewalk replacement on James Avenue from Second Street to Frank Avenue, Second Street from Broadway Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Third Street from Newton Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Fourth Street from Frank Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Frank Hall Drive from Second Second to Third Street and from Fifth Street to Seventh Street, Newton Avenue from Fourth Street to Seventh Street, St. John Avenue from Fourth Street to Seventh Street and Sixth Street from James Avenue to Frank Hall Drive.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the assessments are based on final project assessments, noting his belief that all of the projects are needed and will make the community a safer place to be.