Fargo outlines $4.58 million street and utility rebuild in Improvement District BR25B2, with special assessments

City of Fargo staff on Tuesday presented a plan to rebuild streets and replace utilities in Improvement District BR25B2, including a full water main replacement, sanitary sewer repairs, new storm sewer, sidewalk and driveway work and new asphalt surfacing. Bidding is planned for March 12, 2025, with construction projected to start in May 2025 and finish in October 2025.

The project covers Ninth Avenue South from E Street to Fifth Street South; Tenth Avenue from Seventh to Fifth Street; Seventh Street from Eleventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue; and Sixth Street from Eleventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue. Jason Leonard, a City of Fargo staff member who introduced the meeting, said the estimated construction cost is $3,632,706; with fees and contingencies the total estimate is $4,577,210.

City staff said the project is phased to limit resident impacts. Leonard outlined phase durations that range from about 18 days for short segments to 65 days for larger phases; specifically, phase 1a is 65 days, 1a (other segment) 40 days, 1b 40 days, 2 65 days, 2A 35 days, 2B 18 days, 3 60 days, 3A 30 days, 4 60 days and 4A 35 days. Pedestrian access will be maintained on one side of each block at all times; where sidewalks are closed, staff said residents may be asked to use the roadway. Temporary water piping will be installed to keep water service during construction; staff asked that residences have an external spigot that operators can use for backfeeding while crews work at the meter.

Funding for the project is a mix of utility contributions, sales tax and special assessments. Leonard provided the funding breakdown: wastewater utility $1,575,000; water utility $1,280,000; special assessments $704,000; sales tax $780,000; street light utility $31,000; and storm water utility $200,000. The city said driveway approaches will be replaced up to the sidewalk and that driveway widening may be allowed if it complies with city ordinance; forms for property owners are available.

Special assessments will be calculated under the city's special assessment policy, staff said. Assessment caps described by staff include $44.17 per front foot for local water main work (including water services) and $44.17 per front foot for local sanitary sewer replacement. Leonard said sanitary sewer service replacement carries no special assessment. Storm sewer costs are allocated 50% to sales tax and 50% to special assessment; street lighting is not assessed and is included in the paving cap. Paving assessment caps reported were $93.84 per front foot for single-family and MR tier 1 properties, $143.53 for MR tier 2 and $253.94 for commercial properties.

Staff asked residents to move garbage cans to coordinated collection points during work and noted that boulevards will be graded and seeded; once boulevards reach about 70% growth, maintenance becomes the property owner's responsibility, staff said. The City of Fargo project manager Will Bayuk and Doug Durgan (special assessment staff) and Tom Nock (new city engineer) were listed as attendees on the presentation. Leonard closed the presentation by inviting questions from the public.