City keeps paving project moving with eyes on development

by Marianne Gasaway

The Clear Lake City Council started the ball rolling with assessment proceedings to help fund the paving and other improvements needed on North 32nd Street to make the area more attractive to developers.

The city plans to spend an estimated $1.7 million to extend concrete from approximately 375 feet north from its Highway 122 intersection another 1,850 feet to the north.  At its Monday night Council meeting Consulting Engineer Jason Petersburg reviewed the proposed improvements and preliminary assessment plat and schedule.

The project includes 37-foot wide PCC street pavement, driveways, street lighting, along with substantial water main and storm sewer drainage improvements.

The project will be partially funded by special assessments against the benefitted properties.  According to Petersburg, total preliminary estimated assessments are $462,385.  The City’s estimated cost is $1,321,055, which is 74.1 percent of the project.

Petersburg explained that to determine the assessment amount the five property owners affected will pay, land values had to be assigned.  A study of land improvements on local development projects, as well as the Iowa Codem, provided guidance for determining the value.  Ultimately the city set a $2.25 per square foot as the after-improvement assessed value.

The Council will hold a hearing on the proposed resolution of necessity necessary

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]

to adopt the special assessment process on Feb. 18.  The project bid letting, public hearing and award of contract will take place on March 4.

“It is likely there will be some economic development projects there soon,” said City Administrator Scott Flory.  “I would call this the most significant interchange between Ames and Albert Lea.  To have this area open for development on both sides of the street is huge.”

Council members agreed.

“At first look it’s a very expensive short road.  But when I looked at it further, I see it has a greater benefit,” said Council Representative Mike Callanan.

The additional costs to the paving project can also be attributed to the need to improve storm sewer lines and extend them across the highway.  Approximately 40 to 45 percent of the cost is storm sewer or related to drainage, said officials.  That improvement will impact the entire Highway 122/North 32nd Street area.

Flory noted the city should realize economies of scale by combining the first two phases of the project and is hopeful the $1.7 estimated cost can be reduced.

Public Works

In other business Monday, the Council also set a date for bid letting and award of contract for the final overall component of the 2018 Public Works Facility Improvement Project.

The $180,000 project includes the paving of the access drive between 2nd Avenue South and the driveway approach off of 4th Avenue South, as well as expansion of the existing Public Works Facility parking lot off of 2nd Avenue South.   An additional 24 parking stalls, primarily to accommodate additional parking demands of the Clear Lake Aquatic Center and improve pedestrian safety by reducing street congestion.

Bid letting will be held Feb. 13 and consideration of bids and award of contract by the Council will take place at the Council’s regular meeting on Feb. 18.

Veterans Memorial

The Veterans Memorial Foundation reported another successful and profitable year in the books.  Board President Tom Fey presented the Council with an annual report showing continued strong performance in each of the eight years since the city purchased the golf course from the private sector.

Fey said revenue and expenses were very similar to the previous year.  Net income was down slightly due to less in-house goods sold.  He noted the VMGC board will discuss that issue at its next meeting.

The loss of trees on the course has been a continued concern and expense, he said, noting 125 trees have been downed in the past two years and another 70 to 75 ash trees on the course are affected by the emerald ash bore.  The board is developing a 20-year plan to address the issue.  Thirteen new trees have been planted and a tree fund has been established. To date, about $5,700 has been donated to the cause.

Membership for the course was 200 last season, with another 59 persons purchasing “friends” passes.

The capital improvement emergency fund, which the board deposits $5,000 in annually, currently has a balance of about $26,700.

Fey told the Council Course Superintendent Jeremy Amosson and Director of Golf Mike Oimoen have been retained on contract, providing the course with top-notch leadership.  Amosson is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the golf course, while Oimoen focuses on indoor operations, as well as promoting not only the course, but the sport of golf.  He has been very successful in growing the youth golf program, according to Fey.

In keeping with its regular practice of raising fees every other season, Fey said membership costs will go up slightly— $20 more for a family and $15 more for individuals.

[/wlm_ismember]