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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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AUBURN NEIGHBORHOOD ENAGED LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW STREETS With a 4-1 vote on June 28th, Victoria councilmembers approved city infrastructure projects totalling over a million dollars. Streets, sewer, and water for the Auburn Drive neighborhood is the biggest part of the 2010 Street, Drainage, and Utility Improvement Projects. In addition to Auburn Drive projects, Council also approved $109,000 for a street extension at Thornberry Curve and $50,000 for two trail connections near the Victoria Recreation Center.
Auburn Drive Said City Engineer Cara Geheren, “Bids are coming in significantly lower than what we’ve seen in the past.” Opened on June 21st, low bid on the Auburn projects was $774,732 from Friedges Contracting LLC. High bid was $922,415. “References on Friedges were all favorable,” said Cara. “We recognize their subcontractors. Their bid was about 20% under our estimate of $962,000. A lot of savings were in the sanitary sewer project.” She explained that the entire septic sewer system in the neighborhood is being demolished, it’s substandard, and is being replaced and 100% paid for by the city. Total cost of Auburn Drive improvements -- including lift stations, contingencies, easement acquisition, engineering cost, outside testing, legal and fiscal fees -- will amount to to $1,172,000. Stated, Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “We’re proposing to spend $1,2 million on 19 residents. I’m starting to push back on this. This isn’t a 50/50 city pick-up. The city is picking up $787,000 out of a $1.2 million project.” Benefitting homeowners pick up 50% of street reconstruction costs ($12,318 each) and approximately 100% of the municipal water costs ($6,909 each). The city picks up 100% of sanitary sewer costs. Street assessments per homeowner at Auburn Drive are about $500 lower than estimated, and water assessments about $200 lower, but total assessments still hover around $20,000 per home. Said Councilmember Kim Roden, “It’s a function of density and what needs to be done. The neighbors there were fully aware there was going to be a big assessment. I recall the public hearing. The residents asked for this. Seems there’s been a fair amount of vetting on this project.” Councilmember Roden ponted out the $200,000 difference, a “savings” for city and residents, between the high bid (close to the city engineer’s estimate) and the low bid. Stated Councilmember Tim Amundsen, however, “There is definitely no sale on services.” The price for engineering does not go down. City Administrator Don Uram pointed out, “From a construction standpoint, this has been one of the most complicated projects to design and engineer.” Agreed City Engineer Cara Geheren, “It was a pretty complicated project. Staff recommended the sanitary sewer be brought up to standards as long as the road was being ripped up. The neighborhood is engaged and looking forward to the start of the project.” The project includes Three Phase Power which, according to Public Works Director Ann Mahnke, is the way to go. “It provides a constant smooth flow of electricity to the pumps,” she said. “It gives enough surge to blow out the solids in the line. If they otherwise plug up or shut down, there’s maintenance and man-hours to deal with the pumps. Three-phase is more efficient. In my opinion, it’s the way to go.” But a large utility box, a transformer that measures 6 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet, is necessary and must be sited in the neighborhood. It is an eyesore if not adequately landscaped or camouflaged. Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, “The trend is to put everything underground. I’m fascinated by this. Have we asked for another opinion? Is this utility box the only alternative for three-phase power? In this day and age? Is this the latest and greatest in 2010? How about calling Minnesota Valley Electric for an alternate option,?” The city administrator will check into it.
Thornberry Curve Resident Tuck Thomas spoke in favor of doing the tagalong project of extending/connecting Thornberry Curve from the existing cul de sac to Virginia Drive in the northern part of Victoria. “It would eliminate traffic issues,” he said. “I’ve been a property owner there since 1969. My dad was the developer of the property in 1999. This extension project would eliminate traffic issues. I believe there are no detrimental aspects to this project.”
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Sue’s Album A symphony of photos and fewer than a thousand words at www.VictoriaGazette.com |
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July 2010 |
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City Scoop Continued |
