Eighth Avenue project described

By MICHAEL ROY

Editor

Waseca City Engineer Nathan Willey started off the Tuesday, Feb. 21 council meeting with a few notes on a proposed reconstruction project on Eighth Avenue NE near the county fairgrounds and Clear Lake Park.

On Jan. 19, the city received a feasibility report from Stantec, an engineering firm they have used in the past. Through staff review, the plans for the Eighth Avenue reconstruction project were modified and completed on Jan. 30. Requests for proposals on the project’s design were sent out the next day.

Willey then went into discussions the county commissioners had during their work session Feb. 7. “The main discussions were on roadway cost share percentages between the city and county for the proposed new county fairgrounds sidewalk,” he explained. “The commissioners at that meeting decided they were no longer interested in a new sidewalk along the county fairgrounds.”

This was contrary to the opinions shared at previous meetings, according to Willey. “We still have the resolution of support for AT grant applications,” he assured.

The proposal of the new fairgrounds sidewalk was removed from the grant application, he added. “Because of that, the overall cost decreased $170,000,” he said.

If the city is awarded the AT grant on March 24, Willey said that it will be prepared to cover 100 percent of the sidewalk and trail improvements under consideration. “We are still asking for the maximum, but now we’re basically covering everything.”

If the city doesn’t receive the grant, Willey recommends proceeding with improvements utilizing state aid money while seeking other grant opportunities.

City Manager Carl Sonnenburg explained that now that the commissioners are withdrawing interest from placing a sidewalk on the north side of Eighth Avenue, any future considerations would be on their dime, since that portion of the street is considered a County State Aid Highway.

“If they want to put a sidewalk there in the future, that’s their deal,” Willey explained. “We tried to collaborate with them to get the grant to put a sidewalk along the fairgrounds.”

Willey said that in any case, he recommended proceeding with the trail improvements near Clear Lake Park.

He hoped that the city would be approved for up to $500,000 in grant funds. Some of the money would be used for lighting along the south side of Eighth Avenue between Eighth Street and Clear Lake Drive. “Depending on how the grant admins split it, lighting for the trail could be grant eligible but the street side might not be,” he said.

He added that the city would utilize the grant money for intakes at the Eighth Avenue-Eighth Street intersection to retain a certain amount of water. “We’re also looking into a retention pond.”

Willey outlined a timeline which began with engineering proposals taken on Friday, Feb. 24, then reviewed in late February or March. From there, city staff will select a firm and prepare a contract and construction agreement.

After learning the status of the grant March 24, they will present the city/county construction agreement April 4. If that gets passed, they will design an engineering contract for city and county approval. “We will have the cooperative agreement first, because there will probably be an agreement in the design we’ll have to cost share as well,” said Willey.

In late April or May, the city council will hold a public meeting, send out notices, and get feedback on the preliminary plans. The firm chosen for the project will start a project survey from April to September. Another public meeting will happen shortly thereafter with final plans, a  feasibility report and estimates presented this December.

Next year, staff will finalize plans, then put the project up for bids in 2024.

Council member Jim Ebertowski asked Willey about how the city decided to do a five-foot wide sidewalk on the south side of Eighth Avenue as part of the project. “It’s a new standard for ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant sidewalks,” Willey replied. “If you get two wheelchairs, they can pass each other without any issues.”

When questioned about potential flooding issues with the trail, Willey explained that the trail will be built to drain properly. “It won’t be level with the ground.”

As a whole, the project cost split is 55 percent city, 45 percent county. Willey pointed out that city staff will take on the burden of doing the inspection work.

Cost splits vary on certain parts of the project. Time and money spent inspecting utilities will fall on the city. While a final split has not been decided on storm sewer costs, Willey feels like it will be 65 percent county, 35 percent city. “The county engineer wanted to wait until the state aid engineer says a percentage of eligibility and set a split from there,” he elaborated.