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Council accepts feasibility report for $2.78M 2025 street improvements amid heated sidewalk debate
Summary
Council accepted a feasibility report and authorized public hearings for a $2.78 million street-and-utility project covering 295th Street and Ackerson, approving task orders for design; discussion focused on sidewalk placement, DNR frontage, assessments, grant opportunities and who will bear costs.
The council accepted the feasibility report for the proposed 2025 street improvements that would reconstruct 295th Street and Ackerson, add curb and gutter, replace pavement, extend water mains and include a possible sidewalk and trail. Staff estimated a total project cost of $2,780,000 and said the city would finance roughly $2,400,000 (about 87% of the cost) while using state aid and special assessments to property owners for curb, gutter and optional sidewalks.
“The estimated project cost is, $2,780,000,” the presenter said during the plan overview. The presentation outlined funding sources (nearly $1.5 million in municipal/state aid, $356,000 in special assessments for curb and gutter/sidewalk as preliminarily shown, storm sewer and water system allocations) and a project schedule that would call public hearings in January, approve plans in March and award a contract in April for construction to begin in May and finish by September.
Public commenters and several councilmembers pushed back on sidewalk placement; one resident urged putting the sidewalk on the north side of 295th rather than the south side. Council debated DNR participation in funding frontage, assessment calculations, and whether to delay to pursue competitive grants (Safe Routes to School, Transportation Alternatives). Staff said the DNR historically may not pay for sidewalks except in specific cases and that sidewalk assessments were calculated with DNR frontage included; if DNR declines, the council can reduce assessments.
After discussion council approved a resolution accepting the feasibility report, declaring cost to be assessed and calling public improvement and assessment hearings; the council also approved a task order for design services (Task Order 2024-6) and a separate task order for GIS services (not to exceed $10,000) funded from available ARPA-designated technology dollars. The council scheduled final decisions after January public hearings, when assessments and sidewalk choices will be finalized.
