Council

approves

capital

improvement

projects

Skate park to

be funded with other monies to expedite project

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm City Council approved a $2.3 million capital improvement plan calling for $2 million in utility, street and alley improvements and $199,800 for starting work on the bike trail at its regular meeting Tuesday night.

The city will sell bonds totaling $1,794,408 to finance the plan proposed by City Engineer Steve Koehler.

Removed from the plan at an informational meeting preceding the council's regular meeting was $69,000 for laying the bituminous pavement for the new Recreational Skate Park. It will be funded with money from an uncommitted city fund so that work can start on the project sooner.

Koehler estimated that by not including it in the CIP that the project could be completed by June 15 or July 1 at the latest.

In recommending the project be pulled from the CIP, Councilor Joel Albrecht said he believed the city had promised last August when it was delayed to get started on construction "in early spring."

The CIP includes $268,324 for work on Westridge Road and North Highland Avenue, $375,245 for work on 19th North Street, $640,033 for sanitary sewer main/trunk line replacement and paving on Franklin Street and 11th South Street, $321,770 for work on Bridge Street, $61,266 for a Doris Drive project and $130,755 for North State Street.

The city also will pay $44,000 of the estimated $440,000 for railroad signals and gates on Center and Third South streets and signals on First South. The city's part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation's resurfacing of Broadway between 12th South and 7th North streets will be $30,000.

The CIP also includes $55,000 to cover the cost of installing a sanitary sewer main from Payne Street to Summit Avenue during the reconstruction of County State Aid Highway 26 from Broadway to Payne Street and of Summit Avenue from 10th South Street to Flandrau State Park's entrance. It also includes reconstruction of 10th South Street hill from Payne to Summit.

The rest of the $300,000 CSAH 26 project will be funded with county state aid funds reserved for park entrance improvements, Koehler said.

The council approved a resolution opposing Gov. Jesse Ventura's proposed cuts in state aid to cities.

"The long and the short of this resolution, Councilors, is that we just don't like it," Council President Dan Beranek explained.

The council also approved a change order for engineering services on the bike trail phase 1. The order adds $34,519 for LHB Engineers and Architects for providing additional services in doing archeological and architectural history investigation.