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Willmar council orders 2025 street and utility improvements; staff gives assessment and schedule estimates
Summary
After a public hearing, the council adopted a resolution ordering 2025 street, utility and path improvements and directed staff to prepare final plans; staff presented project areas, estimated component and total costs, assessment ranges by work type, and a schedule for bidding and construction next year.
Willmar City Council on Nov. 4 adopted a resolution ordering the 2025 street and utility improvements and directed staff to prepare final plans and specifications after a full presentation and public hearing from city engineer Jared Golden.
Golden outlined the 2025 and 2026 project maps and explained the difference among repair types: reconstruction (full pavement and utilities replacement), mill & overlay (upper pavement resurfacing and curb repairs), and reclaim & overlay (grind and reshape existing pavement with a new surface). He identified priority corridors including Twentieth Street, Fourth Street (planned for reconstruction and a narrowed roadway to 38 feet from 52 feet in places), Lakeland Drive (a proposed bituminous path), Business 71 and other neighborhood overlays and reclaim projects.
On costs, Golden presented component estimates: overlays were the largest 2025 component at about $9 million; other components included approximately $3.3 million for reconstruction, $1.0 million for storm sewer work, $1.2 million for sanitary, $1.1 million for water main, about $730,000 for path projects, and roughly $330,000 for seal‑coat improvements. Council discussion cited an estimated total near $16 million for the 2025 program.
Golden also gave assessment ranges residents could use to estimate individual liability: street reconstruction assessments (based on adjusted front footage) and typical cost components; overlay assessment ranges were presented at roughly $3,300 to $6,800 depending on lot size. Other example ranges presented: sanitary sewer services roughly $800–$900 per service; water main reconstruction about $20–$24 per front foot; storm sewer roughly $13–$17 per foot. Staff said final assessment estimates would be possible after bids are received in March 2025.
The public questioned county roads being included for assessments. Resident Jodelle Marcus asked why her property would be assessed for work on County Road 24 (College Road); Golden explained the county has a cost‑sharing participation policy and that public entities, including the college, can be assessed. He said the county currently has the road on its 2025 CIP and that it is not uncommon for adjacent city properties to share costs under the city’s assessment policy. Several residents asked that staff mail clear notices earlier in the process and explain payment options; Golden said assessments have typically been spread over 15 years and that staff would provide clearer letters and earlier estimates once bids are in.
Council voted to adopt the resolution ordering the improvements and to direct staff to prepare final plans and specifications; the motion passed 8–0.
Staff said the plan anticipates advertisement for bids in February 2025, bid opening in March 2025, construction beginning in May 2025 and running through the fall; a formal assessment hearing is scheduled for August 2025 where final assessment amounts would be presented.
