[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6340843,"mediaKeyId","2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5","parentId",2258755,"title","Council approves preliminary special assessment for alley reconstruction; residents assessed 50% of asphalt cost","audioSeconds",150,"startMs",377000,"endMs",527000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5&start=377&end=527","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5/thumbnail_377000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340843/New-Richmond-City/St-Croix-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-preliminary-special-assessment-for-alley-reconstruction-residents-assessed-50-of-asphalt-cost","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340843-84d49528600b3c8a6942affe30ef98b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1777153213&Signature=oipiYYWFpp12Yif1TkTwjxi3yIvXVeO7bQGHgjGpD9pOkeVOZYxtRF~SjrrS~PZYS2eXucunu5Qpk6BTWsC4F40ti8HXvvG6Z5X-JMxs3nAgwai-q19TzZiJij4ykn8iTK-tECShzTu8MzKinR6detxaIfGpkArNRftQu1qaxBCESpxxwrrfj4KvnGWHEsO7gYoV16Nge~LWY3Ss0QjtqTWTdOkmwNlNX-q5EIfiXUQcW~aaxvelv8KiGEHpcaDUUffs~CpfIAxHBlAD0dcFs3yMG4uN0tz7LpP7p8eUve7RhkQiZLqrACHsz1u5niJI0Upnc2NOrLc6vpsxHI-dCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of New Richmond, WI","date","2025-02-11T14:18:38Z","article","The New Richmond City Council approved the preliminary special assessment report on Feb. 10 for the alley reconstruction located between Minnesota and Dakota avenues from West Second Street to West Third Street.

City staff described the existing alley as a gravel surface that will be reconstructed with new gravel and new asphalt. The report included a cost estimate — “just under $30,000” — and a funding plan that uses special assessments for a portion of the project. Per the city’s special assessment policy, residents are responsible for 50% of the cost of the asphalt only. Staff said assessments were calculated by front footage; the packet showed assessments ranging from about $500 for one property to about $1,250 for another.

Staff explained property owners may pay the assessment in a lump sum or choose equal annual payments over five years at an interest rate of 6 percent. After the council approved the preliminary report, staff will solicit bids; once final bids are received a final special assessment report will be published and returned to council for final adoption. If bids exceed estimates significantly, staff said the council would hold another hearing to allow public comment on higher costs.

The motion to approve the preliminary special assessment carried on a recorded roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Council - 10 Feb 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council on Feb. 10 approved a preliminary special assessment report for an alley reconstruction between Minnesota and Dakota avenues, saying adjacent property owners will be assessed 50% of the asphalt portion of the work.","taxTitle","New Richmond City, St. Croix County, Wisconsin","taxId",63707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6340849,"Council hears library financing update; $10 million CDA lease revenue bond planned, $3.1M fundraising gap",720,1660000,2380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5&start=1660&end=2380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5/thumbnail_1660000.jpg","/articles/6340849/New-Richmond-City/St-Croix-County/Wisconsin/Council-hears-library-financing-update-10-million-CDA-lease-revenue-bond-planned-31M-fundraising-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340849-cbb8a40e9d54c5a23f7cdb96e59362f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1777153213&Signature=XXfxa9xiKraiuCNg5EF4C7cuvCsZjwyCHwuBeH9bCI77hZ7DOfZUeNI9QUBq4kHMyvSkMnPmNqd-~Zw0sM9glmJmllFZWQtiw0W3MENtIu-OwZ3tlUSZD4Lic6u8qFlEWKXWCYk0KLD1jG1csOF-LhX~OQXtFso34QMd0Rs1x2BgWMgg~DEF509KE9STtEJrPPqCOEI4LBBg~xyIUCcpNAXkHl4ijdqYaVe2GruN2unBEUOkp2CaoI5krv~yiPyzC6g5lBqzEi9z7VfOVyKpsvHBwAUv5nGsdWTCo-LcB3O~vTIUeKVpW4iUAYZh9s~gkd98c1Kgk5AUcPgGZ1HjLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City financial advisers and staff updated the New Richmond City Council on Feb. 10 about the financing plan for the library building project and urged a coordinated fundraising push to close a roughly $3.1 million projected gap.

Sean Luntz of Ehlers, the city’s financial advisor, told the council the preferred financing instrument is a Community Development Authority (CDA) lease revenue bond sized at up to $10 million, which would permit 30-year financing and is, under Wisconsin rules, exempt from both federal and state income taxes. Luntz and staff projected annual principal-and-interest payments of about $640,000 if the issue is priced at current market rates; the issue includes a one-year debt service reserve. Staff said an initial bond pricing is targeted for about March 5, with a bond closing around March 20 and developer turnover of the first floor targeted near April 1.

Rhianna (city staff) told the council the total project estimate is approximately $15.0–15.6 million in construction costs, that the city has roughly $1.7 million cash on hand plus ongoing impact fees and that naming-rights gifts, grants and donations would reduce the borrowing need. Staff identified an estimated funding gap of about $3.1 million and said the city would continue grant applications and private fundraising to reduce that gap; if cash is used to cover shortfalls before 2026, the city intends to reimburse itself by a later bond issuance.

Council members asked whether residents could buy into the tax-exempt issue; Luntz said community investors could be connected to Northland Securities, the underwriter, and that interest payments on the bonds would be exempt from federal and Wisconsin state income taxes for bondholders.

Councilors discussed organizing a small, focused volunteer fundraising group (staff, council, library board members and community volunteers were suggested) to lead outreach to local businesses, foundations and donors while staff continues larger grant applications. The council asked for candidate names to be submitted quickly so the group can meet and begin targeted outreach. Staff noted the council had already adopted a naming-rights policy with a range of donation levels; exact amounts are to be used in donor materials distributed by the proposed fundraising group.

No final financing vote was taken at the Feb. 10 meeting; the council will consider parameter resolutions and CDA lease items at a combined CDA/city meeting on Feb. 24, with final pricing expected in early March.","City financial advisers told the New Richmond City Council on Feb. 10 they plan to finance the new library through a Community Development Authority lease revenue bond of up to $10 million and that the project still faces an estimated $3.1 million funding gap.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6340854,"Council votes: bids, assessments, zoning amendments and honors approved",0,3320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5&start=3320&end=3320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258755-e63279c1baea8261bb4061cd71f7b6a5/thumbnail_3320000.jpg","/articles/6340854/New-Richmond-City/St-Croix-County/Wisconsin/Council-votes-bids-assessments-zoning-amendments-and-honors-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340854-0360e82cf537dcb279cb76562c9cc94a/orig.mp4?Expires=1777153213&Signature=S9Cmtq6196PoyPWlpkNKHYoV8t4uj7IaryA1Wq7RWCs5gZdA2yoAAkKDQ8sXCxK6qbH2TVCY1ziSWvzNQSpY6Urii2a4gYAXfQ5shQyZw7Kwbj2eo~bFDh3fxzb4-MSO2REVfFoPrIVntebBH0ZNhyJ6OPXXioLuwzMjq2NNXNw54n27phJhPOlbaEKKnx6OH~EyT8xO4J19E9gMc9GS5GTur4htTvnr0Y5ubleSEmuSHe5LiwaqrGiYMXJpsGIh5ys9FyolCub5ckpp14YqkYKhv6-02fasUhcWLOUwrBc4RXLN40HsE5AcB6qjn5VoyDX1HVnNEKMaQRs8dkUR-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Richmond City Council on Feb. 10 approved a series of routine and substantive items, including a preliminary special assessment for an alley reconstruction, authorization to solicit construction and equipment bids, adoption of zoning ordinance amendments, and a recommendation to the ambulance board to name the ambulance building for the late Chuck Mills.

The council voted on a consent agenda and then on individual motions. Roll-call votes were recorded for each item. Key items approved included the preliminary special assessment report for an alley between West Second and West Third streets; authorization to solicit construction bids for the 2025 Street and utility projects (including Bill Maher Avenue reconstruction and the Oaks Trail); authorization to solicit bids for Public Works equipment and for utility capital projects; adoption of Ordinance 6-20, amending the zoning ordinance on administrative permits; and a motion recommending that the ambulance board honor Chuck Mills by placing his name on the ambulance garage.

Several votes were unanimous. On the authorization to solicit Public Works equipment bids Alderman Montello recorded an abstention, citing a potential bid conflict with his employer. The council’s roll calls named Aldermen Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Montello and Kittle; a mayor presided but was not named in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda: approved (motion made, seconded; voice vote recorded “Aye”).
- Preliminary special assessment report (alley between Minnesota and Dakota avenues, W. Second to W. Third): approved; roll call: Weinmeier yes, Gartner yes, Volkert yes, Montello yes, Kittle yes; outcome: approved.
- Authorization to solicit construction bids for 2025 Street and Alley projects (Bill Maher Ave reconstruction, Oaks Trail, lead service replacements and included alley project): approved; roll call recorded as yes by present aldermen; outcome: approved.
- Authorization to solicit bids for Public Works equipment (John Deere Gator and zero-turn mower): approved; Montello abstained (employer may bid); outcome: approved.
- Authorization to solicit bids/authorize work for utility capital projects (water, electric, wastewater items; note: UV disinfection upgrade treated as an operating single-source expense): approved; Montello abstained on one motion; outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 6-20 (zoning ordinance amendments regarding administrative permits for small building additions): approved; outcome: approved.
- Recommendation to ambulance board to name the ambulance garage for Chuck Mills: approved; outcome: approved.

The council also received updates and held extended discussion on financing and fundraising for the library building project, and heard public comments from prospective local business owners.","At its Feb. 10 meeting the New Richmond City Council approved preliminary special assessments for an alley reconstruction, authorized multiple bid solicitations for streets, utilities and equipment, adopted zoning changes for administrative permits and recommended naming the ambulance garage for Charles \"Chuck\" Mills.","actionData","errors"]

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Council approves preliminary special assessment for alley reconstruction; residents assessed 50% of asphalt cost

Council hears library financing update; $10 million CDA lease revenue bond planned, $3.1M fundraising gap

Council votes: bids, assessments, zoning amendments and honors approved