Marshall council adopts South Whitney reconstruction assessments after public hearing; some residents raise surprise about extra charges

The Marshall City Council voted to adopt special assessments for the South Whitney Street reconstruction project — from College Drive to Jean Avenue — after a public hearing in which a property owner said he expected a lower maximum assessment.

The council heard that the total project cost was $1,864,992 and that project costs were shared across multiple funds: wastewater paid 19.5 percent, Marshall Municipal Utilities (MMU) 23.9 percent, the surface water utility 16.4 percent, the City of Marshall 25.3 percent, and 14.9 percent of costs were assessed to property owners, City Engineer Jason Anderson told the council.

Nut graf: Councilors approved the resolution to adopt the assessment after staff explained the assessment schedule, interest and timing, and after at least one property owner said he had expected a lower, street‑only maximum assessment.

Anderson said the assessment interest rate is calculated as 2 percentage points above the city’s bond rate, producing an assessment interest rate of about 5.07 percent payable over eight years. The assessment roll was included in the council packet, he said.

At the public hearing, resident Steve Klein, 401 Charles Avenue, said he had attended prior informational meetings and that he expected a maximum assessment of $5,500 for his property. "I have it in my notes and I'm expecting that to be the assessment that I'm gonna pay," Klein said.

Anderson and council members clarified that the $5,500 figure referred to the street assessment maximum for curb, gutter, sidewalk and street work, and that additional charges can apply for private sanitary sewer service line replacement, private driveway widths beyond the first 12 feet, and private sidewalks leading to homes. Anderson said the city’s current maximum street assessment had been adjusted to $5,850. "The 5,500 would've likely... been the fee schedule maximum for the street assessment at that time. It was since adjusted, it's $5,850," Anderson said.

Anderson told the council that private sanitary service lines from the main to the property line are typically the property owner’s responsibility and can represent the bulk of additional costs beyond the street maximum. The city applies credits for corner lots and maintains a 20‑year look‑back on street assessment portions for crediting purposes, he said.

On timing, Anderson said the city’s practice is to finalize project costs and then assess property owners; assessments from this project are not due until 2026. Property owners may pay the assessment upfront within 30 days of the hearing to avoid interest, or spread payments over eight years via property tax with the stated interest rate.

Council members who spoke during the hearing said the distinction between the city’s street assessment maximum and separate private charges had been consistently stated at prior informational meetings and expressed regret that some residents were surprised.

The council moved to close the public hearing, approved adoption of the assessment resolution, and the motion carried. The meeting record notes one abstention during the vote.

Ending: City staff said they will continue to meet with affected property owners who have questions about individual assessments and payment options.