Council approves ravine stabilization proposal, schedules Fifth Avenue West assessment hearing and authorizes Stenberg storm‑sewer change order

The International Falls City Council acted on several public-works items on Aug. 18: it accepted an engineering proposal to stabilize an eroding ravine on Shorewood Drive, scheduled a public hearing for the proposed assessment on the Fifth Avenue West project, and approved a change order for storm-sewer relocation in the 2025 Stenberg addition project.

City engineering staff described the Shorewood Drive ravine as a serious erosion problem threatening neighboring structures. Council approved the proposal as a cost-share project: the grant/program will cover approximately 75% of the project and the city will pay about 25% of the total. Staff said they hope to complete the work this year pending project scheduling and approvals.

Council also adopted a resolution to schedule a public hearing on the proposed assessment for the Fifth Avenue West project; the hearing was set for 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at City Hall, giving property owners and the public an opportunity to comment on assessments tied to the project.

On the 2025 Stenberg addition storm‑sewer work, city staff recommended a change order to relocate and upgrade storm sewer to remove a section from the roadway. The council approved an additional cost of $75,504 for the work, to be paid from the city’s sales‑and‑use tax account. Staff advised that the actual storm‑sewer relocation would occur next spring because a gas line must be moved first; the mill-and-overlay of the remainder of the street will proceed this year.

Councilors emphasized communication with affected property owners and noted an open-house neighborhood meeting on the Stenberg project would be held the next day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The actions passed unanimously and are intended to address pressing erosion and drainage problems to protect private property and improve roadway condition.