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Detroit Lakes council authorizes plans for $1.5 million Rossman Avenue reconstruction after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing, the council approved a resolution to prepare plans and specifications for Rossman Avenue street and utility reconstruction, citing repeated water-main breaks and aging sewer pipe; roughly $500,000 of the estimated $1.5 million project would be assessed to adjacent property owners.
The Detroit Lakes City Council voted to authorize preparation of plans and specifications for the Rossman Avenue street and utility reconstruction after a public hearing at the council'9s regular meeting.
City Engineer John Pratt told the council the project covers Rossman Avenue between Willow Street and Reynolds Street and was prompted by repeated water-main breaks and severely deteriorated ductile-iron fittings. Televising showed the sanitary sewer is a mix of PVC and older VCP (petrified clay) pipe, with the VCP in very poor condition, Pratt said. He recommended replacing the sanitary sewer with PVC mains, precast concrete manholes, a new 12-inch PVC water main with new hydrants and valves, and service laterals to the right-of-way edge.
Pratt estimated the total project cost at just over $1,500,000, with the city covering most utility replacement costs and about $500,000 assessed to adjacent property owners under the city'9s special-assessment policy. Under the policy presented, the city'9s utility funds would pay 100% of sanitary sewer and water main replacement costs, while street reconstruction would be 50% assessed (standard street assumptions apply); service laterals would be 100% assessed to benefiting properties.
Residents asked about assessment interest rates, driveway approach replacement, parking during construction and preservation of recently installed sidewalks and trees. Finance Officer Heidi said final assessment rates depend on the city'9s borrowing costs but noted the assessment policy typically sets the assessment rate at 2% above the city'9s borrowing cost; recent special assessments have been about 5–5.5% in practice. Pratt said curb, gutter and approach aprons would be removed and replaced as part of the full reconstruction and that the city would attempt to minimize tree removals and communicate construction access in advance.
The council approved the resolution authorizing plan and specification preparation by voice vote; staff said design would be completed over the next one to two months, bidding would follow (tentatively in March), an assessment hearing would be held after bids (around April or May), and assessments would be levied beginning in 2027 with typical repayment terms of 20 years.
