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February 16, 2000
City councilOKs streetconstructionprogramBy KREMENA TODOROVA Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM - The City Council unanimously approved on Tuesday a $3.4 million street construction program for 2000, and set a public hearing to discuss its contents for March 21. The package includes $1.4 million for a baseball facility at the former American Artstone site committed in 1999; $1 million for development in the area of North Highland Avenue; some $377,000 for construction at Heinenhill, Cherry, Hilltop and Monument streets; and smaller, relatively routine street projects. The utility construction on North Highland is the first phase of a $7.3 million long-term plan to extend the road to Highway 14. It will help open up 15-30 residential lots this year, according to City Engineer Steve Koehler. The construction would include installing water and sewer mains and services into potential lots; storm sewers, detention ponds and grading from County Road 27 to Oak Street; and related projects on 8th North Street. In addition, the city would rebuild the North Highland/County Road 27 intersection, to improve its alignment and add a free right-turn lane for traffic going east on Highway 27. Councilors also voted to make North Highland a "divided parkway," with a 16-foot median in the center and one traffic and one parking lane each way. This design would allow expanding the road to four lanes, if that becomes necessary in the future, officials said. They also stressed that while the lanes will not be built until a later date, the design choice will facilitate upcoming engineering decisions. Projects on Heinenhill, Cherry, Hilltop and Monument streets, a total of approximately $377,000, are intended to facilitate North Highland development, officials said. For example, water main extensions in that area would help serve the new lots. The council also agreed to spend $192,000 on upgrades at 5th North Street. These upgrades would involve relatively small stretches of the road surface, curb and gutter. Unlike more comprehensive reconstruction of Center Street in 1998-1999, the city will not use state funds to foot the bill. Smaller projects, with costs ranging from $12,000 to $88,000 include upgrades at 14th South, 4th South, North Washington, South German and other streets and alleys. The projects put the city's bonding needs at about $1.6 million, approximately the same as 1999. The balance will be paid with a $500,000 private donation for the Artstone baseball field; PUC water funds, a bonding carryover from last year and other sources. Some $760,000 will be assessed to private owners. According to current policy, the city assesses new construction and "localized benefit" projects, such as alleys, at 100 percent. Assessments for extensive reconstruction of older streets, however, are determined on a per lot basis, and run at a to-be-updated $2,200. Smaller-scale projects on older streets are paid for by the city at large. In other developments, the council: * Transferred $346,000 in 1999 budget appropriations to various sinking funds, made smaller transfers out of 1999 sinking and other funds, re-appropriated unused 1999 budget allocations, and closed out funds. * Approved a 2-foot variance requested by Kara Jorve and Kent Menzal, of 10 McIntosh Drive, to allow them to build a garage 8 feet from the property line, instead of the mandated 10 feet. The decision reflected a compromise agreement with neighbors. * Voted to change the location of a short-term parking stall currently placed in front of the Chamber of Commerce at 1 N. Minnesota St., to 13 N. Minnesota St. in front of Sheldon Rieke's book store. The action was taken in response to a request by Rieke, who cited changing parking practices on the block. It had been coordinated with Chamber representatives.
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