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College Drive project enters its final phase
Staff Writer With an estimated project cost in hand, the city of Brainerd now has the final design scope for the College Drive reconstruction project.
The Brainerd City Council on Monday with a 6-1 vote approved paying $212,847 for engineering services for survey work, drainage and abutment design, roadways, stormwater, trails and sidewalk layout, crosswalks, Cuyuna Lakes State Trail demarcation, bridge work and a pedestrian underpass, signs, lighting, trees and plantings, and irrigation.
Voting against was council member Mary Koep.
The council removed one item, an add alternate for decorative street lighting, because it might not be covered under the $2,234,000 in federal aid for the $7.3 million project.
The council in February unanimously approved a design for the College Drive reconstruction project that will feature a four-lane road with roundabout intersections at South Fourth Street, Southwest Fourth Street and Mississippi Parkway. A signal light will be installed at the Quince Street intersection.
The design also relocates accesses to several apartment buildings along College Drive to a road that would be constructed a block to the north, adds a bike trail on the north side and a sidewalk on the south side of College Drive, adds a pedestrian underpass under the College Drive bridge over the Mississippi River, includes pedestrian crossings at intersections and in the middle of blocks and will feature several other streetscape items.
In other action, the council:
Unanimously approved issuing about $5.7 million in revenue notes for Essentia Health Group - Brainerd Lakes Integrated Health System, St. Joseph's Medical Center and Brainerd Medical Center - for its proposed heart and vascular center project. John Utley, the city's bond counsel with Kennedy and Graven, said the notes are payable solely by Essentia Health Group and the city has no liability and there is no taxing power pledged to the obligation if the group goes into default. He also said any cost incurred by the city must be paid for by the borrower.
Approved an ordinance amendment by a 6-1 vote to allow an on-sale liquor license for Dianne Kay Ulmen at the former Choppers Bar and Grill site, 723 Mill Ave. Ulmen plans to open a neighborhood family restaurant with a full-service bar at the site.
Held a public hearing and adopted an ordinance allowing expansion of non-conforming residential buildings as long as the expansion is within the existing building footprint and does not increase habitable space.
Called for applicants for a term on the Cable TV Advisory Committee to expire Jan. 1, 2013; a term on the Economic Development Authority to expire Sept. 7, 2013; and a term on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority to expire June 6, 2014.
Set a Safety and Public Works Committee meeting at 1 p.m. Aug. 20 to talk to engineering firm Short Elliott Hendrickson about the South Eighth Street turnback project scheduled in 2010 from Oak to Washington streets.
Received a list from the Safety and Public Works Committee on the 2010 construction program. At a total cost of about $3.8 million, which excludes the College Drive project, the construction project includes the South Eighth Street turnback, North Ninth Street from Kingwood to Fir streets, North Fifth Street from Washington to Fir streets, Kingwood Street from North Second to Washington streets, Holly from North Third to North 10th streets, Northwest Second Street from Washington to James streets, Tyrol Hills, Northwest Sixth Street from Charles to Washington streets, Northwest Charles from Northwest Eighth to Northwest Third streets and Quince and Portland streets from Southeast 12th to Southeast 13th streets.
Approved a four-way stop at South Seventh and Laurel streets in downtown Brainerd.
Hired financial adviser Springsted Inc. at a cost not to exceed $4,500 to consider options for closing out the Willows housing development tax-increment financing district or to use the proceeds from that district and others to help the city pay off the bonds used for more than $1 million in assessments on the failed Brainerd Oaks housing development.
Was informed by Koep that city staff, with whom Koep and Council President Kevin Goedker have been meeting to discuss the 2010 budget, are preparing a balanced budget using the same figures as the 2009 budget. Koep told the Personnel and Finance Committee that a big issue will be debt to be paid on bonds. Olson said the council needs to address the shortfalls of the 2009 budget, where he estimates the city will be $400,000 short. Koep said that issue had been addressed by staff with new revenues.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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