Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forest Lake council tables petition to study paving of Inman Avenue and 224th amid cost concerns
Summary
Residents petitioned the council to study paving parts of Inman Avenue and 224th; staff estimated a feasibility report could cost $10,000–$15,000 and that per‑lot assessments could be on the order of $30,000–$36,000, so council voted to table the petition while staff confers with petitioners and public safety.
Forest Lake residents asked the City Council to study and possibly pave sections of Inman Avenue and 224th after increased traffic from recent development, but the council voted to table action while staff prepares firmer cost information.
Jeff Carrington, a resident who said he lives at 22410 Manhattan North, told council prior attempts to pave the road failed because some property owners opposed assessments; he said all but one household on the affected stretch now favors improvement because new development has increased traffic and created dust, potholes and a bottleneck near a DNR boat launch.
City staff and public works described the technical challenges. Staff noted segments vary in width (approximately 14–18 feet depending on location) and that city standards and current stormwater rules now require additional earthwork, stormwater treatment areas and possibly curb and gutter. Public works said a rough project cost estimate would be in the $380,000–$440,000 range, which translated to roughly $30,000–$36,000 per assessable lot in the current configuration.
Staff also explained options for paying for a feasibility study—city absorbs the study cost, residents enter into escrow or a bill‑back agreement, or a combination—and estimated a feasibility report might cost $10,000–$15,000. Council emphasized the need to talk with public safety and do a parcel‑by‑parcel review before committing to full design or assessments. Several council members said they were open to pursuing the study if petitioners are willing to pay the study cost or if the city can fold the work into a nearby project to capture efficiencies.
Council later moved and carried a motion to table the petition and return the item to a future meeting after staff meets with petitioners and public works to refine the scope and cost estimate.
Next steps: staff will coordinate with residents and public works, refine the feasibility study scope and cost estimate, and bring a recommendation back to the council at a later meeting.
