The planned District 1-2009 street improvement project is officially a go.

At a special meeting on April 2, the Rugby City Council approved by a 5-2 vote a resolution to award the project contract to Bituminuous Paving of Ortonville, Minn., to complete city-wide street repairs this year. Those approving the resolution were Jim Hoffert, Dave Bednarz, Steve Brossart, Gerry Jacobson, and Monte Schneibel. Those voting no were Bruce Rheault and Terry Wentz. Councilman Bill Hartl was absent.

The council also settled what bid alternates will be included in the project. Of the four alternates, two will be completed – alternate No. 1, which is curb and gutter replacement throughout town, at a cost of around $300,000. And alternate No. 2, which includes reconstruction of 5th Ave. S.E. (Country Road), along with new curb and gutter, and includes a portion of 10th St. S.E., costing a little over $500,000.

Those two alternates cost about $812,000, and when added to Bituminuous’ base bid and contigency and engineering costs, bring the project cost to around $5 million, according to project officials.

The project will include a number of repairs, from seal coats to roads deemed in good shape, to milling and overlay, and in some cases, extensive repairs of streets in the poorest condition.

At the meeting, the council also passed a resolution to approve the contract and contractor’s bond for the street improvement district as well as a resolution confirming the appointment of the special assessment commission.

What’s next?

A pre-construction meeting among engineers, city officials and contractors has been scheduled for this Thursday, April 16, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Karla Harmel, city auditor-administrator, said the special assessment commission will also meet later this month to determine assessment costs for property owners.

Special assessments will pay a large segment of the costs, but city infrastructure and maintenance funds will also be set aside.

The city council has earmarked $500,000 in infrastructure dollars, and more will likely be allocated in future years. There is also talk about whether an additional sales tax to generate more infrastructure funds toward the street repairs should be established. Also, whether additional infrastructure funds on city water bills should be collected. The council held a special meeting on Thursday, April 9 to discuss financing the project among other project-related topics.

What about stimulus money?

Resident John Ford late last month pitched the idea to members of the finance committee, that he would be willing to go to the state legislature and lobby for federal stimulus funds for the city’s project.

The council did some checking with federal and state officials and learned the city’s street project is not eligible for federal stimulus funds.