The Brainerd City Council Tuesday night received an overview of street improvement projects scheduled for the next three years.
According to a memo provided by Paul Sandy, assistant city engineer, the city is planning three projects for 2017 which will use municipal state aid and local funds. The municipal state aid funds will come from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The council had previously approved a resolution advancing $1.3 million in state aid funding for the three projects. The city typically receives $775,000 annually in state aid funding.
The three projects include resurfacing Jackson Street from Northwest Fourth Street to the west city limits, resurfacing Buffalo Hills Lane from South Sixth Street to Graydon Avenue and a mill and overlay of Oak Street from South Sixth Street to Southeast 19th Street.
The estimated cost of the Jackson Street project is $390,000, with $52,000 to be assessed to benefiting properties, $130,000 estimated for sidewalk reconstruction and $208,000 for the city's cost for repaving the street.
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The estimated cost of the Buffalo Hills Lane project is $397,000, with $122,000 to be assessed to benefiting properties, $13,000 estimated for sidewalk reconstruction and $262,000 for the city's cost for resurfacing the street.
The estimated cost of the Oak Street project is $645,000, with none to be assessed to benefiting properties, $265,000 for curb ramp construction and $380,000 for the mill and overlay on the street.
The council unanimously adopted a motion requesting the preparation of a feasibility report for the 2017 assessment projects.
The locally funded construction program for 2017 includes reconstruction of the South Sixth Street East frontage road, 11 blocks of resurfacing in northwest Brainerd and annual maintenance projects of chip sealing, crack sealing, patching and striping.
The resurfacing project in northwest Brainerd is aimed at reconstructing most of the streets in the northwest Brainerd commercial district. The total estimated project cost is $560,000, with $186,000 being assessed to the benefiting abutting properties.
The 2017 striping project will be bid as part of the Crow Wing County striping project, in order to take advantage of better rates. The city typically budgets $20,000 for annual street striping.
The annual chip seal program is done in order to extend the life of pavement by sealing out moisture and providing skid resistance for vehicle traffic. The project includes 17,000 feet of pavement and the estimated project cost is $125,000. Crack sealing is also used to preserve pavement and the city has budgeted $25,000 for crack sealing for 2017.
The city's annual patching project is aimed at areas where multiple potholes have formed on streets not included in the five-year capital improvement plan. There is $30,000 budgeted for patching for 2017.
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Future years
The largest project on the city's plan for 2018 is the South Sixth Street reconstruction project, which will run from Joseph Street to Washington Street. The city is coordinating with MnDOT and Brainerd Public Utilities on the project. The city will replace the sanitary sewer main, water main and lighting as part of the project, while MnDOT will reconstruct the road. The city will be responsible for the sanitary sewer replacement costs, which are estimated at $800,000 and the water main replacement costs, which are estimated at $1 million.
The project is expected to last the duration of the spring, summer and fall. Bids will be let for the project in August of 2017. A majority of the design has been completed and city staff are waiting for final information from MnDOT to finish plans for the sanitary sewer and water main.
The city was awarded three separate sidewalk grants for 2018, 2019 and 2020 through the MnDOT Transportation Alternatives Program. Those sidewalk projects are planned for 2019 and include extending sidewalks along South Sixth Street south from Joseph Street to Industrial Park Road and extending sidewalks in the neighborhood around Garfield Elementary School in northeast Brainerd.
In 2019, the city is also planning a reconstruction of Buffalo Hills Lane West from Graydon Avenue to the end of Mississippi Parkway. The road will be constructed with a 26-foot wide roadway and a 10-foot wide separated trail connecting to the existing trail on Buffalo Hills Lane which ends at Greenwood Street West. The estimated construction and engineering costs are $813,900, with 100 percent of the construction costs being assessed to benefiting properties.
In other business, the council:
Received a written report from Police Chief Corky McQuiston on the department's activity for the month of December. The department responded to 1,427 calls for service during the month. This compares to 1,403 calls for service during December of 2015.
Extended a listing agreement with Close-Converse to list vacant lots in the Brainerd Industrial Park. The agreement carries a fee on sold properties of a seven percent brokerage fee or $5,000, whichever amount is greater. The agreement is extended until Dec. 31, 2017.
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Approved a lawful gambling application for an exempt permit submitted by the Brainerd Lakes chapter of Muskies, Inc., for a raffle March 18 at the Brainerd National Guard Armory, 1115 Wright St.
Approved a contractor payment to Short Elliott Hendrickson for work on the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport utility extension project through Dec. 31 in the amount of $2,241.
Approved a contractor payment to Tom's Backhoe Service for work on the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport utility extension project through Dec. 31 in the amount of $282,275.
Approved a contractor payment to Tom's Backhoe Service for work on the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport utility extension project through Dec. 31 in the amount of $154,855.
Approved a contractor payment to Widseth Smith Nolting for a bridge inspection and audit in the amount of $3,606.
Approved an event application submitted by Brainerd Community Action and Shep's on Sixth for a St. Patrick's Day parade on March 11. The parade will close portions of Front, Laurel and Maple streets from 12:30-1 p.m.
Called for citizen applicants to various city committees. Visit www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/279/Boards-Commissions to view the openings.
Approved Mayor Ed Menk's recommended council liaison appointments. He appointed council member Sue Hilgart to the Northland Arboretum Board and the Transportation Advisory Committee. He appointed council member Dave Badeaux to the Cable TV Advisory Committee, the Parks and Recreation Board and the Rental Dwelling Board of Appeals. He appointed council member Kevin Stunek to the Brainerd Community Action Board and The Center Board.
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He appointed council member Kelly Bevans to the Brainerd Economic Development Authority Board. He appointed council member Gabe Johnson to the Brainerd EDA and the Brainerd Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board. He appointed Council President Dave Pritschet to the Brainerd Library Board. He appointed council member Jan Lambert to the Transportation Advisory Committee. He appointed himself to the Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corporation Board and the Brainerd Public Utilities Commission.
Approved Pritschet's recommended council liaison appointments. He appointed Stunek to the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission, Hilgart to the Fire Advisory Board, Lambert to the Planning Commission and Badeaux to the walkable bikeable committee.
Approved Menk's appointment of Krista Brodal to the HRA Board as a resident representative for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2021.
Approved Pritschet's appointment of Andy Larson to the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission for a term to expire June 30, 2017.
Approved Pritschet's appointments of Donald Gorham, Justin Burslie and Charles Marohn to the Planning Commission for terms to expire Dec. 31, 2019.
