ELGIN CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2018
The Elgin City Council met for a special meeting on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. The purpose of said meeting was to discuss with the property owners abutting Beech Street and 1st Street, possible paving and costs.
Notice of said meeting had been posted at three places, namely, U.S. Post Office, Dean’s Market and the Elgin City Hall, as prescribed by law.
Mayor Schmitt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and announced the location of the Open Meeting Act.
Councilmembers present were Duane Miller, Don Mackel, Jim Kittelson and Mike Dvorak.
Also attending was City Clerk Vicki S. Miller, City Engineer John A. Zwingman, Keith Gillham, Martin Witt, Lyle Meis and Lynn Koinzan.
City Engineer Zwingman presented the estimates for the construction of 9-inch concrete paving on Beech Street from 2nd Street to 1st Street and on 1st Street from Beech Street to Maple Street. The work will include a 3-way return at the intersection of Beech and 1st Street along with storm sewer extending along Beech Street from Highway 14. We are proposing to go with 35-foot wide street and with 40 foot radii, to facilitate the truck traffic, truck waiting lines and keeping residential traffic concerns in mind.
The estimates were broke down in four different options. The first one was based on $55 liner foot concrete, all to be assessed evenly. Option #2 is based on $55 liner foot concrete, with CVA picking up the cost for the additional thickness not the property owners. The third option is based on $55 liner foot concrete, with the City picking up the cost of the additional thickness, not the property owners or CVA. The total estimated cost of the project is $216,000.00. The fourth option was the costs if concrete prices would increase $5 a liner foot. The estimated cost of option 4 is $235,000.00.
Zwingman explained that Beech Street has been pushed south and if paved he would push the street probably 15 to 20 feet north. If that happens there are some trees that would need to be removed. Mr. Koinzan stated that he didn’t care if the tree on his property was removed.
Mr. Zwingman explained that the map included just showed the properties that are effected.
Mr. Meis questioned the 130 feet frontage that he would be accessed for; he felt that it would be closer to 120 feet. Mr. Zwingman explained that if the project proceeds an accurate measurement will be taken. However he agreed with Mr. Meis that it would not be 130 feet.
Zwingman informed the property owners that he had broken down the project into 2 phases to help keeping traffic flow open.
Zwingman explained that if the City moves forward with the project, the City would need to make a decision to continue. Then he would contact the bonding company to get a necessary funding in place and the Council would review this at the December meeting.
In January a public hearing would be held to hear pros and cons from the public regarding the project. If the Council moved forward at the February meeting specifications would be reviewed and at the March meeting the City would accept bids.
Zwingman stated that he was not trying to rush the City, but if we are going to do it next year, we need to get started before all the contractors have their schedules for next summer done.
Mr. Meis asked why the project was being considered. The reason was because of the drainage problems and the dust problems. Also the City needs to decide if they are going to continue patching the problems with the street year after year or fix it correctly.
Zwingman explained that the ditch which runs along Mr. Meis’ property would be gone and there would be a gutter to help the water go to the storm sewer on the highway.
There would also be a retention area that would hold water until it could go into the storm sewer.
Mr. Koinzan stated that if CVA didn’t pave the road west of 1st Street all the run off and mud would be all over Beech Street anyway.
Zwingman further explained that the costs accessed to the property could be paid all at once within 45 days or over a ten (10) year period. If the ten period was used there would be a 2% administration fee over the bond rate. If the City turns the collecting over to the County, the City would forfeit the 2% fee and the County would collect it.
Mayor Schmitt asked the property owners if they had an opinion either way.
Meis stated that it was hard to image what benefit $14,000.00 would do.
Mr. Gillham was asked if he thought CVA would pay for the extra thickness, since it was the CVA truck traffic that required the extra thickness.
Mr. Gillham stated he would need to investigate the issue.
Mr. Koinzan asked who replaced the driveway if it was removed. Mr. Zwingman stated that if it was removed it would be replaced. Koinzan asked if he made it wide would he need to pay for that. Mr. Zwingman stated yes.
Discussion was held on the monitoring wells that would be involved. Zwingman stated he had talked with the State and several of them can be abandoned.
Mayor Schmitt thanked the property owners for coming and stated that the City didn’t want to place an additional burden on anyone, but something needs to be done.
The Council discussed the possibility of how to help the property owners with the costs.
Discussion was held on the City paying 20% or 25% of the individual property owners cost.
Zwingman stated he could redo the estimates to reflect the City paying an additional percentage.
Following the discussion, a motion was made by Dvorak to direct City Engineer Zwingman to proceed with limits of districts and ordinance creation of districts. A second to the motion was made by Kittelson. Roll call vote: Ayes; Dvorak, Mackel, Kittelson and Miller. There being four ayes and no nays, Mayor Schmitt declared the motion passed and adopted.
The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
PUBLISH: November 28, 2018
ZNEZ
