Fergus Falls council approves Junius reconstruction contracts, awards landfill demolition and adopts library art policy

Fergus Falls — The Fergus Falls City Council on April 7 adopted final special assessments and approved construction and related contracts for the Junius Avenue (CP5961) street and utility reconstruction project, awarded a separate landfill demolition contract, and approved the Fergus Falls Public Library art policy after lengthy council debate.

The council’s most consequential action was on CP5961, the Junius Avenue Street and Utility Reconstruction Project, a full-reconstruction job that includes water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, curb and gutter, new pavement and municipal lighting. Alex (Interstate Engineering) presented the final cost summary and asked the council to: (1) hold the final special-assessment hearing; (2) adopt the final assessments contingent on awarding the construction contract; (3) award the construction contract to CNL Excavating for $1,041,093.95; (4) accept the municipal lighting agreement with Otter Tail Power; and (5) accept Interstate Engineering’s proposal for construction administration services for $153,460.

The council opened a public hearing on the assessments. Ruth Heistead, who said she represents First Lutheran Church on Junius, asked when the church would get a written assessment amount and who is responsible for replacing water service lines from the street to the building. Alex said notices with the preliminary assessment amounts had been mailed previously and that First Lutheran’s two assessments total $16,038 ($12,798 and $3,240). Alex noted that work in the public right-of-way—water main, curb, sidewalk where indicated—will be paid through the project; individual service-line replacement inside private property is the property owner’s responsibility and can be done under separate contract between the owner and a contractor.

City staff described the project total at $1,509,667.53, with utility fund amounts and special-assessment bonds…