March 9, 2006 at 6:51 a.m.
Plans being laid for millions in road projects, public hearing next week
Plans being laid for millions in road projects, public hearing next week
County Engineer Bill Malin said there’s much needing to be done. He sat down with some public works crew members to develop a list of the five “worst” roads, but ended up with 15 and another $10 million in needed work, on top of the projects being considered next week.
Asst. County Engineer Joe Triplett said the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation has studied 24 county systems and ranked county road conditions.
Chisago County’s roads were categorized “the worst shape” of those in the study so far, Triplett added.
Commissioner Lynn Schultz observed that past commissioners, “...neglected our road system for many years...it took a long time for roads to get into this poor shape and it will take a long time to get them back into shape,” said Schultz.
The proposed 2006 Plan names three sections of roadway that haven’t been surfaced since the late 1970s; CSAH 12 between #9 to Highway 95; CSAH 7, from I-35 to CSAH 30 and, #54 from CSAH 7 to the bridge.
The engineer also hopes to do a mill and overlay on CSAH 19, from the freeway to CSAH 30, which was last done in 1988.
Starting in the southern end of the county the proposed projects (and these depend on what level of bonding is sold for debt) include:
~ shoulder work along #30 between Stacy and North Branch.
~ A mill and overlay on the piece of #19 from the four-way stop in Stacy to the freeway bridge.
~ Where the sewer line went in last summer north of Chisago City (County Road 19 from west edge of Chisago City line to #14) will be rebuilt.
~ Right of way funds will begin to be spent for future work on #14, running north of the #19 intersection.
~ The new #17 freeway interchange project includes rebuilding #17 west of the freeway to where 17 meets #30, ASAP.
~ The whole length of #12 between Highway 95, south to the edge of Center City, is proposed for a reclaim and paving in 2006.
It’ll be a few years yet for other south end projects....reconstruction of Keystone and Manning Trail to the Washington County line and a reclaim and pave for #26 are proposed in 2008. Malin stressed that any projects on work years beyond 2007 should be considered “unfunded” for now.
The County 20 bridge in Lindstrom isn’t on any foreseeable plan. Malin said, “I’m not going to push the 20 bridge project, unless we get some special funding.”
Other as-of-now unfunded projects are:
~ The CSAH 17 extension (about $3 million) and #19 west of I-35, estimated at $2 million.
The 15 “worst roads list” also included County Road #16 out of Taylors Falls which is tentatively on a 2008 to-do list.
Slated for reclaim and paving in 2010 or 2011 is County Road 20 from north of Lindstrom, into Taylors Falls.
County Road 24 or Lofton, south of Chisago City, is on the work plan for 2009.
Malin is aware of all the culverts needing attention but can’t do all of them in one year.
The culvert under #10, outside of Harris, is on the priority list. There’s also two culvert jobs along #7 one at County Road 54 (Rush City) and one west of the freeway, on the 2006 list.
Culverts under #30 (Wyoming to North Branch) at “various locations” are in the 2007 budget.
A culvert needed under #67, to the south of Highway 95 (rural North Branch ) is a tentative 2009 cost.
Culvert work is always being reviewed, though. Malin explained there could be more culvert repairs to north end roads, but inspection for condition isn’t productive until the frost comes out and the culverts’ integrity can be checked.
Numbers mount quickly when talking road projects.
The $15.5 million being considered in next week’s hearing is a maximum and may or may not be what’s sold for debt.
County Treasurer Lee Olson stressed that Chisago County is “nowhere near” its statutory debt limit but debt is a subjective thing. “There’s no question about the need,” he commented. “It becomes a matter of willingness to commit to 20 years” of payments and then balancing that commitment against the unknowns.
Dennis Freed, county auditor, said the statutory debt limit is 2 percent of total market valuation or $75 million. Chisago County has less than half outstanding-- or about $30 million total debt load.
A state report released last week said the Chisago County total debt load per person is $655. But, these numbers are based on 2004 stats and Freed said the $655 is high. A couple bond issues were recently retired, so based on the county’s 2005 report the state should be reducing that per capita debt figure.
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