Fergus Falls council approves plans and bids for three street‑improvement projects

The Fergus Falls City Council on Feb. 17 approved resolutions authorizing plans, specifications and advertising for bids for three street‑improvement projects affecting commercial and residential corridors.

Kyle from Moore Engineering told the council the projects include full replacement of water, sanitary and storm lines and new curb, gutters, sidewalks and asphalt. "The total project cost is just over $3,100,000," he said of PI 5966 (the Kevor section from Union Avenue to Cascade Street and Mill and Court Street down to Lincoln Avenue), adding that the city will assess a portion of the street work to benefited properties and cover the center portion per city policy.

Why it matters: the council’s approvals move the projects into the bidding stage, with construction scheduled to begin as soon as May–June 2026 and most substantial work targeted for completion in late summer or fall. Adjacent property owners will face special assessments spread over time unless they pay up front.

Project details and funding breakdowns presented at the hearing showed: - PI 5966 (Kevor): total project cost a bit over $3.1 million; street portion roughly $1.7 million; special assessments for affected properties estimated at about $530,000. Kyle said the city covers the center portion of the street and assesses the remainder to abutting properties based on front footage. - PI 5964 (Cleveland Avenue): total cost just under $3.0 million; road work about $1.3 million; estimated assessments to adjacent residents around $406,000 (roughly $135 per front foot for the assessed portion). Moore Engineering said the plan includes a contiguous sidewalk on the west side for school access and that final paving (the "final lift") will be left for the following summer to reduce settlement issues. - PI 5967 (Douglas Avenue): total cost reported at $2,225,900; assessed portion roughly $451,000; estimated assessment rate quoted as about $188 per front foot. Staff noted geotechnical borings required a thicker pavement section (a 5‑ton design) that raised per‑square‑foot cost compared with typical residential rebuilds.

Public questions focused on sidewalk placement, grade impacts, driveway and hydrant clearances, whether poles would need relocation and how assessments appear on tax bills. Dean Lee, a resident who spoke during the Cleveland hearing, asked whether the sidewalk would run from Cleveland all the way to Beach Avenue; staff confirmed the intent to extend the sidewalk and said poles on the route would be relocated if necessary. Cindy Johnson, a Douglas Avenue resident, said, "our taxes are already so stinking high" and asked how assessments would affect her property taxes. Staff explained that property owners may pay an assessment in full at the time it is levied or allow it to be billed annually and amortized (staff explained typical assessment billing spreads over 15 years and that the council set a 7% maximum interest assumption at the preliminary cost hearing).

Council discussion also touched on parking alternatives (a council member suggested diagonal parking to increase spaces; Moore Engineering said diagonal parking would be difficult given driveway locations, hydrants and state aid requirements) and the timing of bonding. One councilor urged delaying bonding to wait for potentially lower interest rates; finance staff said the 7% figure presented was the high end set at this preliminary hearing and that the final rate would be set after bids are received and bonding arranged.

All three resolutions were moved, seconded and approved on recorded roll calls, sending the projects to the bidding phase with bids expected in March–April and construction to start in May–June 2026. The council directed staff to return with final assessments and financing details after bids are received.