Eagan council approves four street revitalization projects after debate over drain tile on Forceaway

The Eagan City Council on Jan. 21 approved four street revitalization projects—project numbers 1566, 1567, 1571 and 1572—authorizing staff to prepare detailed plans and specifications and proceed toward bidding and construction.

The projects together cover about 6.76 miles of streets and affect 834 properties. City staff told the council the total estimated cost for the projects is about $4,900,000, of which roughly $3,600,000 would be covered by city funds and about $1,300,000 would be assessed to property owners under the city's assessment policy. Assessments will be offered with 5- and 10-year terms; unpaid balances will be placed on Dakota County property tax rolls and would appear on taxes in May 2026.

The most contested portion of the hearing involved project 1571 (the Ridgecliff/Covington/Forceaway area), where staff proposed installing a perforated drain tile behind curb and gutter and optional pump connections that residents may use to discharge sump pumps into the city system. Assistant City Engineer Ben Perkey and City Engineer Aaron Nelson said groundwater is damaging curbs and pavement on Forceaway and that the drain tile is intended to capture groundwater before it reaches the road…