Council adopts special-assessment schedule for two West Allis street reconstructions

The West Allis Common Council on April 15 adopted a resolution confirming the city engineer’s schedule of proposed special assessments to pay part of the cost of concrete reconstruction on South Ninetieth Street and West Tooth Avenue.

Assistant City Engineer Rob Hutter summarized the project at a public hearing, describing utility and paving work planned for South Ninetieth Street from West Durham Avenue to West Dakota Street and for West Tooth Avenue from South Orleans Avenue to South Osage Avenue. Hutter said sanitary sewers there are “85 years old,” and that sanitary, storm and water work will be part of the reconstruction. He told the council the two sample cost estimates shown were about $400,000 for Ninetieth Street and roughly $1,100,000 for the longer West Tooth Avenue segment.

Hutter described how special assessments are calculated and collected. Property owners may pay the assessment in a lump sum or in city-offered installment plans of five or 10 years; those installment plans carry the city’s borrowing rate, he said. He also said tax-exempt properties within the city are included in the assessment process so the cost is distributed “equally” among benefited properties, and that commercial and manufacturing parcels have higher assessment rates.

City staff said the design would be finalized and the project would go to bid in spring, with construction expected in mid to late summer and into the fall. Residents will receive mailed notices before construction begins and door hangers if schedules change; the engineering department also maintains a “construction in progress” online report updated weekly.

The council voted to confirm and adopt the city engineer’s report; the committee recommendation was moved up for final action and the ordinance/resolution passed on the council floor. The vote on the committee-led recommendation was recorded in committee action and the council later approved the item by roll call (10–0). The council directed further work through the public-works process, including bidding and scheduling.

The council packet and staff presentation noted sample assessment bill timing (mailed in about a year) and the options for payment. Hutter encouraged property owners with parcel-specific questions (driveway width, sidewalk replacement, etc.) to contact the engineering department so staff can respond outside the meeting.

The decision now clears the way for final design and bidding under the city’s public works procedures; final construction start dates will be set after bidding and contractor selection.