BAXTER — Residents gathered to express their concerns with the cost of potential road construction projects for 2023.
An open house regarding the full-depth reclamation of six residential roads and one commercial road took place Oct. 20 at Baxter City Hall with about 20 concerned residents in attendance.
Scott Hedlund, the project manager, gave an overview of the project. People were able to voice their opinions after the presentation. Two council members, Connie Lyscio and John Ward, were present.
Most residents who attended said they were worried about the cost of the project and the estimated assessments for which they would be responsible. The preliminary assessment calculations are currently in the range of $8,000-$12,000 per single family residential property, except for those on Joler Road with a current estimated range of $15,000-$18,000. Commercial properties are currently in the range of $180-$220 per frontage foot.
The numbers are preliminary, according to information provided by the city. One of the biggest factors affecting the rates is how high-density residential apartment complexes are calculated. Another factor affecting the rates is large parcel sizes.
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The residents who gathered said they were astonished the city would consider a project this big with inflation and the rising cost of materials. Some argued roads were in good shape and urged the city staff to reconsider pursuing it next year.
Sue and Bob Barry, owners of two lots on Clearwater Road, said they still have previous assessments to pay off on those lots. They have tried to sell their lots, they said, but no one is willing to buy them. Their estimated assessments were around the $10,000 range, which would amount to $20,000 when adding in what they previously owe, they said.
“With the economy and everything going on, we just can’t afford it,” Sue Barry said. “We’ve been trying to sell the lots and no one wants them.”
Baxter City Council members met Oct. 4 to discuss the improvement project that includes the reclamation of:
- Clearwater Road from Inglewood Drive to Edgewood Drive,
- Cedar Scenic Road from Oakwood Drive to Memorywood Drive,
- Oakwood Drive from Cedar Scenic Road to Michelle Circle,
- 1,520 feet of Joler Road from Briarwood Lane,
- Forest Drive from Excelsior Road to Clearwater Road,
- 1,040 feet of Fox Road from Forest Drive, and
- 200 feet of Fox Place from Forest Drive.
Road reclamation is a lower cost method of improving roads, the city reported. The process involves breaking down the road material already in place and recycling it into new pavement for the road involved.
The project would involve resurfacing the roads to the same width. Most will remain as rural ditch sections, except for the east and west ends of Clearwater Road. Clearwater Road will have curb and gutter in place instead.
There will also be an extension of two paved trails along the south side of Clearwater Road from Inglewood Drive to Edgewood Drive and along the north side of Cedar Scenic Road from Brownsville Circle to Memorywood Drive.
Residents present at the open house urged the city to reconsider the project until prices are lower or the roads are in need of repairs.
“These are the decisions that keep me up at night,” Lyscio said.
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The council will vote on the project in the coming weeks and host another improvement public hearing toward the end of November to early December.
SARA GUYMON, Brainerd Dispatch, staff writer, may be reached at 218-855-5851 or
sara.guymon@brainerddispatch.com
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