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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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February 2012 |
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VICTORIA LEARNS ITS SHARE OF HWY 5 PROJECT PROJECT: $10 MILLION. CITY SHARE: $166,000 Council voted 4-0 to approve the Cooperative Construction Agreement with the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation. Councilmember Kim Roden was absent that evening of January 23rd. The $10 million MnDOT project involves a shutdown of Hwy 5 through Victoria for a time this summer of 2012 because of major road and bridge improvements. "The project continues to be on schedule," said City Engineer Cara Geheren. "The bid date is January 27th. Once bids are received, MnDOT will work on executing contracts. There is no new news to report." "This [cooperative construction] agreement addresses the city's share of the costs," she said. "The project was originally planned to terminate at the bridge, but the city had applied for a grant to extend construction limits beyond the Dairy Queen to County Road 11 and that intersection." She said the city's share of costs includes paying for the sidewalk being added between Victoria Drive and the Holiday Station. It also includes construction of a piece of connecting trail at Madelyn Creek and stormsewer improvements at Quamoclit Street. Estimated city cost is just under $166,000. "That number will be updated once MnDOT has the bids. We will be paying actual costs," she said. "Holly continues to work with business owners and MnDOT to coordinate things," said Cara, who was referring to Holly Kreft, Victoria's Community Development Director. "I'm also working with their communication folks. MnDOT will have weekly meetings and written reports. The city's website and MnDOT's website are also resources." Cara said there will be two points of contact, one for business and one for the public. "There will be a meeting scheduled to make sure we're all coordinating." Councilmember Tom O'Connor asked if the City of Victoria has enough money in its road funds to cover its anticipated share of Hwy 5 costs. Cara replied that MnDOT is the entity that has provided the estimate of $166,000 and that she is looking at it carefully. Jylan Johnson, Victoria's Finance Director, said the city has approximately $425,000 for use in the 2009 Street and Utility Project Fund. "Are there other costs for the city?" asked Mayor Mary Thun. "Yes," replied Cara. "There are some easement costs that the city will have to participate in. There may be some cost participation also in the underpass. The City of Chanhassen was successful in getting a DNR grant to offset some of that cost. Estimates have been fluctuating quite a bit because of the complexity of construction." Administrator Don Uram stated that Victoria received a number a couple of weeks ago in regard to the Hwy 5 underpass near the Arboretum and Minnewashta Parkway. "Victoria's share is about $32,000," he said. "A temporary construction easement is with the University of Minnesota," said Mr. Uram. "It was not a significant amount. I'm pretty comfortable with the numbers." Asked Councilmember Jim Crowley, "What is our recourse if the numbers go way beyond $166,000?" Said City Attorney Mike Norton, "There are contingencies in the contract. However, we are committing ourselves to the costs according to the contract." "What if it comes back at $400,000?" asked Councilmember Crowley. "I'm concerned about the surprise." Said Mr. Norton, "The state has tried to reasonably anticipate costs. This is a pretty well spec'ed out contract. We're not going to be facing $100,000 in additional costs. We have a very excellent idea of what we want to do out there. I don't see a need for significant change orders." Mayor Thun pointed out that project cost of $10 million does not come through the City of Victoria. Explained Cara, "The process MnDOT goes through is very similar to what we go through on our street reconstruction projects. You go to the council with a general cost before you go out for bids. You get a new number before the contract is executed." "Typically, we see around a 3%, 4%, or 5" difference in costs," she said. "Typically, they would notify us in writing of differences."
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