4.1. SR 05-18-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Elk River May 13, 1998 Page 2 It should be noted that to facilitate this project, we will need a narrow easement along the north side from the School District. This is because the widening to the north will push the power line out of the existing easement. If the School District is unwilling to give this easement in a timely fashion, it would delay construction. You will note two things about this schedule. First, it proposes that the assessment hearing be held after the project has been awarded and the construction completed. This is not the typical way that we have been proceeding with projects. This exposes the City to a slightly increased risk of an assessment appeal being sustained by District Court and the City being responsible for the cost. The second issue is that construction would not start until well after the school year is closed for the summer and would not be completed until after the next school year has begun. This will likely cause some disruption to both the school activities and the construction activities, however, the road should be constructed to a point that it can easily carry traffic in the worst weather conditions. In thinking about a 1998 construction project versus a 1999 construction project, there are a few benefits to a 1999 construction project that bear mentioning. They are as follows: Obviously, it would provide enough time for the City to go through the public hearing, bidding, and assessment hearing processes before a contract is awarded, thus eliminating any risk that the City would have by not holding the assessment hearing until after the project. It would allow more time for working with School District personnel and utilities to coordinate activities along the School Street corridor. These activities would include realigning, if possible, some of the School District's driveways, and coordinating the relocation of electrical lines and other underground utilities that may be in the way of the new construction. We may, potentially, receive a slightly inflated bid in 1998, caused by a rather short construction period with a rather late bid opening. By the middle of June, most contractors are starting to fill in most of their construction schedule. In 1999, the project would be bid early in the year, allowing a contractor to plan ahead for construction starting immediately after the school year is over, thus not having to "squeeze" the project into their 1998 schedule. The City's method of funding their portion of the cost of this project would likely be Municipal State Aid dollars. As we have discussed previously, the City has more projects planned for 1998 than there are Municipal State Aid dollars available. Moving the project to 1999 would allow one more year of allotment to be available to help in the funding scenario of all proposed projects within the City. Howard R, Green Company O:\PROJ\803570j\570-1312.may.doc CONSULTING ENGINEERS