Board confirms final special assessments for 2024 street and sewer projects

The Marshfield Board of Public Works approved final special assessments Feb. 3 for several completed 2024 projects, Acting Public Works Director Josh Moritz reported.

Moritz presented three related items: final assessments for the East Fourteenth Street reconstruction, the 2024 asphalt paving program (which included overlays, mill and fills, pulverize and repave segments and driveway/culvert work), and final assessments for sanitary sewer work completed in 2024. He said most items came in below early estimates because contingency allowances were not fully used and asphalt prices were lower than projected.

On the East Fourteenth Street reconstruction, Moritz said the final assessments were lower than the estimates in the memo. For the asphalt paving program he said some items—mill and fill segments and frontage assessments—came in about 20% below estimates, while two alleys that had been pulverized and repaved showed atypical variances that staff said they would double‑check. For the 2024 sanitary sewer work, Moritz said sewer lateral assessments were roughly 9% below estimates. He noted a separate assessable replacement at 3219 South Cherry—installed during a planned repair—had a final assessment of $7,983.11, which matched the estimate.

Board members asked whether there was a reason estimates consistently ran higher than final costs; Moritz said estimates include contingency percentages that often go unused and lower asphalt prices also explained the differences. Each recommendation was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.