Council approves design contracts for street and drainage work, tables one flood project pending budget closeout

Mitchell City Council approved professional design agreements on Jan. 20 for several street and drainage projects, and tabled one storm-drainage contract pending final budget closeout.

Council approved an agreement with S P N Associates for design services on North Ullman Street from 20th Street to Kemper Avenue. The scope includes topographic survey, utility design and full street-construction plans; the not-to-exceed design fee presented was approximately $245,000. Staff said construction would be considered in the 2026 budget and that the design would allow the city to seek an SRF loan or fund from enterprise accounts.

Council also approved a separate design agreement with S P N for East First Avenue from Burr to Foster (hourly, not-to-exceed fee about $265,000) that includes water and sewer replacement and curb-and-gutter reconstruction. Staff said this design will be coordinated with a state-owned segment at Wallace Street and that construction timing would depend on budgeting.

A proposed McLaurie Engineering agreement for a storm-drainage project at Thirteenth Avenue and Wisconsin Street (design/bid services, not-to-exceed $79,000) was discussed but tabled after budget questions. Staff said the project was identified in the city’s northwest drainage study but noted that approving design work before the 2024 financial close could commit funds before council finalizes year-end balances. Council voted to postpone the Thirteenth/Wisconsin agreement until March to allow staff to finalize 2024 closeouts and present fuller budgeting context.

Nut graf: The council acted to move forward on several street and utility design contracts to put projects into a biddable condition while pausing one drainage contract until year-end financials are complete so budget implications can be assessed.

Clarifying details: Ullman Street design fee not to exceed $245,000; East First Avenue design fee not to exceed $265,000; Thirteenth/Wisconsin storm-drainage design proposed not to exceed $79,000 and was tabled until March. Staff said some projects may be funded from water/sewer enterprise funds or via SRF loans; council was cautioned that cumulative out-of-budget commitments approaching nearly $1 million and staff urged caution to maintain a structurally balanced budget.

Ending: Staff will return in March with Thirteenth/Wisconsin contract materials once 2024 closeout numbers and department carryover requests are confirmed; the Ullman and First Avenue designs proceed to prepare for 2026 construction budgeting.