The final plans for roughly a $6 million street and utilities replacement project this summer were given a go-ahead Tuesday, March 23 by the Staples City Council.

Consulting engineers for the Staples Highway 10 turnback project have estimated the total cost to be about $5.8 million. The state is paying for a portion of that total, as the main street involved is the former Highway 10 or Second Avenue through Staples. Other connecting intersections will also see construction, especially one block of Second Street N. E. (Burger King corner) and the two downtown blocks of Fourth Street N. E.

The state and Todd County will pay for approximately 55 percent of the project, or $3.2 million. The majority of that will be Minnesota Depart - ment of Transportation special turnback funds. Since much of the roadway is also Todd County roads, some county state aid municipal funding will also be used. Officially, this is a Todd County project, as the state can only turn a highway back to cities over 5,000 population or to the county involved. Once the project is concluded, all but two blocks of Fourth Street will become city streets.

The City of Staples will be responsible for approximately 45 percent, or $2.6 million, of the project.

City Administrator Nate Mathews cautioned the city council that figures are still estimates and could change when bids come in next month. He noted the Todd County Board had approved the project’s plans the week before.

The state (and county) funding will be used to pay for street, sidewalk and retaining walls replacement and will also pay a portion of the storm sewer and a portion of street landscaping (streetscape) items, such as trees, tree grates, bike racks, decorative sidewalk, etc.

The City of Staples will pay for sanitary sewer and watermain replacement under the roadway, a portion of the storm sewer and a portion of the streetscape items. The city funds will come from both utility funds and general city funds.

Property owners in the construction area will also be paying special assessments. They will pay for new water or sewer service lines to their buildings (estimated at $2,300 for residential and $3,100 for commercial). They will also pay a $35 per front foot assessment for streetscaping work, with some of this paid for by city and state funding. Owners of building with awnings in the street right of way are also paying for removing those awnings, most of which have now been removed.

The project will be advertised and bids from contractors sought. The bids are expected to be approved by mid-May with work to begin shortly after that. The project is expected to take all of the 2010 construction season, with the possibility that some finishing work will be done in early 2011. Todd County has to advertise and approve the project bids as well as the city.

The engineers have told the city they expect to find some contaminated soils in the course of the project. Some funding has been included in the plans for that, but the city has also been told the cost could exceed the amount set aside. That could increase the city’s portion of the project. On the other side, the city is hoping bids will come in lower than estimates if contractors

In other business, the city council:

o APPROVED both a on-sale liquor license and a raffle and bingo permit for the Sacred Heart Area School for use on April 24.

o APPROVED fire protection service contracts with several area townships. One exception was Moran Township, which has chosen to go with Browerville for all its fire protection.

o APPROVED a city of Staples Personnel Policy, a 20-page document that has been several years in the process through a city council personnel committee..

o DISCUSSED forming a Facilities Use Committee, which would determine use and maintenance of city buildings and facilities. The city’s Public Works Director would likely be in charge, but that job is currently vacant.

0 APPROVED hiring retired city worker Ken Lingenfelter part time for this summer to work on Highway 10 turnback project construction related tasks.

o NOTED the city Parks and Recreation will be receiving grants of $5,000 from Arvig Communications System for the Legacy Trail systems and $15,000 from the University of Minnesota Central Regional Partnership for the Dower Lake Recreational Area steering committee to use in planning Dower Lake improvements.

o NAMED City Clerk Phil Lindaman as compliance officer and adopted a Post Issuance Compliance Procedure and Policy for tax-exempt government bonds, a federal bookkeeping requirement.

o NOTED greatly increased circulation of library items in February, after the move to the new city hall/library building. Circulation was up 36 percent for February of 2010

o ALSO NOTED that city rules prohibit burning of leaves and other natural debris in the spring. Open burning is only allowed in the fall in the city limits.