Accomplishing road improvements takes some time. There is a process that needs to be followed
with public improvements. These
include the formal bidding requirements that need to be followed. These processes are prescribed by Minnesota
Law. We’re already working on road
improvements for 2017.
One step at a time! The process starts with some
planning. What projects make sense and
how are we going to address the financing?
The Road Committee recommended several streets in Breezy
Point to be paved. These streets are
those in the subdivision of Whitebirch 6th Addition and include:
Navaho Trail, Pima Circle, Zuni Circle, Aztec Circle and Pawnee Circle. The recommendation was received and accepted
by the city council.
Street improvements are paid for by assessments levied on
benefiting properties. Financing of the
improvements is being accomplished with existing revenues. By using resources without bonding a good
deal of costs are eliminated.
In following the process prescribed by law to assess
improvements the first action needed is for the city council to request a
feasibility study. This study defines
what is needed to be done to install the road improvements. Typically the roadway surface is viewed for
adequacy of base and drainage. Ditches
may need to be upgraded along with culverts, outlets or other
requirements. This study has been
requested by the city council.
Accomplishing this study requires a contract with the
engineer to do the study. This was
approved as well in moving the process forward.
Once the study is accomplished the city council is informed of the
outcome and considers the possibility of the road improvement project. If it seems feasible and reasonable to accomplish
the improvements they will call for a public hearing. All affected property owners are given notice
of the hearing and the preliminary costs are reviewed along with related
assessment amounts.
With a favorable outcome from the improvement hearing the
council would take action on the remaining steps of ordering plans and
specifications, seeking bids and holding a final assessment hearing prior to
ordering the project. If the outcome at
the assessment hearing seems to indicate the owners want the improvements, the
council orders them and awards the contract for construction.
Considering the time lines; the feasibility study will be
completed in a month or two. The
improvement hearing will be held a couple of weeks after that. If the process moves forward plans and
specifications are developed for approval in late fall, early winter. Bids are then received in February or March.
The assessment hearing follows within about three weeks. Subject to that outcome, the ordering of the
project and award of the contract can take up to an additional six weeks. Construction would occur sometime after road
restrictions are lifted in the spring.
Project completion occurs in the summer of 2017 with final restoration
in the fall.
It takes a process, and time, to get road improvements accomplished.
