Committee pitches road projects

Several Brainerd road projects are being proposed for 2010.

Brainerd's Safety and Public Works Committee on Monday recommended public hearings for about $4 million in projects throughout the city.

The projects include:

• Reconstruction of street, curb, gutter and other utilities on North Ninth Street from Kingwood to Fir streets, North Fifth Street from Washington to Fir streets, Kingwood from North Second to Washington streets and North Holly from North Third to North 10th streets.

Brainerd Public Utilities also plans on water, wastewater and electric improvements in conjunction with the project and will redesign the street lighting.

"That's what we always do," in conjunction with street projects, Brainerd Public Utilities Superintendent Tom Phelps said.

• Reconstruction of the street, curb and gutter in Tyrol Hills and Northwest Second Street. Brainerd Public Utilities will upgrade the underground electric system with the project as well as redesign the street lighting.

• Resurfacing of Southwest Fourth Street. Brainerd Public Utilities intends to upgrade water services and redesign street lights. City Engineer Jeff Hulsether said the city had initially looked at just an bituminous overlay, but resurfacing the street will give a better result. The street was last resurfaced in the 1960s.

• Resurfacing Northeast 12th Avenue from L to O streets and Southeast 14th Street from Pine to Oak streets. Brainerd Public Utilities will redesign street lighting with the project.

• Resurfacing the frontage road along South Sixth Street, including new curb and gutter south of Spruce Street because of erosion. No utility work is planned with the project. Committee and council member Lucy Nesheim, who lives on the road, abstained from voting on the public hearing recommendation.

• Resurfacing Northwest Second Street from Washington to James streets; Northwest Sixth Street from Charles to Washington Street and Charles Street from Northwest Third to Northwest Eighth streets. No utility work is planned.

• Reconstruction of Quince and Portland streets from Southeast 12th and Southeast 13th streets. Brainerd Public Utilities will redesign the street lights along the project.

Safety and Public Works Committee chairman and council member Bob Olson said the city has had road problems for a long time and is now, with the Engineering Department's five-year plan, getting around to addressing them.

"It's something I feel we can no longer neglect," Olson said.

To pay for the projects, Olson noted the city levies about $400,000 a year for street improvements, has $1.3 million in its construction fund and would there would be about $1 million in assessments. In total, about $ 2 million would need to be levied, Olson said, equating to a $27 per year increase in taxes for a $100,000 home, a $41 per year increase in taxes for a $150,000 home, a $116 per year increase in taxes for a $250,000 commercial property and a $252 per year increase in taxes for a $500,000 commercial property.

"We all realize we have some difficult economic times for our citizens, for the city, for the state, for everyone involved but we've had infrastructure issues for a long time," Olson said.

The public hearings for the projects will be set by the city council at its Jan. 19 meeting.

The committee on Monday also heard a recommendation from City Planner Mark Ostgarden to expand sidewalks in the city.

Ostgarden said in the Engineering Department's five-year plan there are about 40 projects where sidewalks could be expanded. For the interim, Ostgarden recommended, and the committee agreed, looking at expanding sidewalks with the Southwest Fourth Street resurfacing from Laurel Street to College Drive, in gaps on Holly Street from North Third to North 10th streets, Charles Street from Northwest Eighth to Northwest Third streets and on Northwest Second Street.

Ostgarden also suggested the city reconsider its assessment policy of having adjacent property owners pay for 100 percent of sidewalk installation and repair. He noted street projects are assessed at 50 percent. City Administrator Dan Vogt recommended the city attorney review Ostgarden's recommendation because the City Charter states that sidewalk costs are the responsibility of the property owner.

The committee withheld making a recommendation on sidewalks until its Feb. 1 meeting.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.