Some preliminary decisions on how much to spend on the amenities for the old Highway 10 turnback project next year became hot potato items for the Staples City Council Dec. 22.

Tim Houle, engineer with the Widseth, Smith, Nolting/SRF consulting engineering firms, came to the council meeting seeking direction on the city’s plans prior to a Jan. 6 final public hearing on the turnback project. The old Highway 10 (Second Avenue) route, plus two blocks at the south end of Fourth Street, will be torn up this summer under a combined state and local project.

The underground portion will include work on city water and sewer mains prior to replacing the road surface. Those costs are pretty much determined in this roughly $6 million project. What has not been determined is how much the city is willing to provide for added amenities along the road length.

In the downtown commercial areas, minimum plans call for a base level of streetscaping (normal highway ‘cobra’ lights, trees and black soil, tree grates and frames and concrete planters on curbs.

Houle asked the city council to consider an enhanced level of streetscaping. This would provide (in addition to the base level), 60 ornamental lighting fixtures, waste receptacles, ten metal benches, five bike racks, 18 planter urns, decorative pavers and other similar items.

The total enhanced level cost was estimated at $904,000, while the base level project would cost $529,000, according to the engineer’s estimates. Either way, the state will kick in $235,000 for enhancements. The property owners along the project will be assessed for a portion of the street amenities, which is estimated to raise $287,000 toward the project. To do the enhanced level, Houle was asking the council to plan for a $381,600 city participation, meaning additional bonding to be paid through city property taxes.

Council members varied in their support of the enhancement level. Joel Quance felt taxpayers are not willing to go the extra amount. He said to go for the base level enhancements, which would need just $6,000 contributed from the city. Rob Schmieg was close to Quance’s stand, as he said eliminate the ornamental lights and fencing.

Others noted this opportunity doesn’t come every day. Mayor Chris Etzler said, “This stuff is going to last for another 50 years or more. We’re not going to get this opportunity for another 50 to 75 years.” The existing concrete road way, with a layer or two of asphalt that was added later, was put down in the late 1940’s.

Etzler said some items could be cut to bring down the total, but not all. “It would be a huge mistake to not consider ornamental lighting,” he said.

“We need to make our city as visible as possible,” JoEllen Einerwold said. She noted the improvements could make the city more attractive to new employees coming to the hospital or other Staples employers.

“I don’t want to hear anymore from the taxpayers how we already have a choke hold on them,” Quance said.

Etzler said he’s heard similar comments but he also hears people say they live here and are willing to pay the bill. “We can’t be concerned only with today. This is a long term project.”

Stan Carlson noted he’s always been a fiscal conservative and noted this project has already been shaved down somewhat from previous plans. He

was even able to support

some level of enhancement. “To low ball this project is

something we would come to regret,” he said.

This discussion continued among council members. Don Flaten called for “... something in the middle.” He said local civic clubs (Lions, Rotary, garden clubs) could provide benches, trash receptacles or other items later. He suggested a mix of cobra lights and some shorter ornamental lights in the areas that might have the most pedestrian traffic.

City Administrator Nate Mathews added that the pavers and urns don’t have to be included, but it was noted that ornamental pavers could not be added later without extra expense.

Houle left shortly after

saying that he now knows “The enhanced level is a

smidge too high. We can pull out some things, but we will keep the trees. You people have had differing opinions, but we’ve had good conversation and we know where you are at.”

The Highway 10 turnback public hearing is at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Staples Community Center.