City of Lake Elmo, MN

PROJECT CONTACTS: If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please contact the City of Lake Elmo Engineering staff.

• Jack Griffin, City Engineer 300.4264              jack.griffin@FOCUSengineeringinc.com
• Chad Isakson, Project Manager 300.4283              chad.isakson@FOCUSengineeringinc.com

PROJECT UPDATE: The City Council awarded a contract to S.R. Weidema, Inc. to complete construction of the improvements in 2021. Updated construction information is provided below:

• The contractor will be working on punchlist items early next week.
• Restoration repairs are scheduled to begin on June 10, 2022.
  • Please do not mow the new sod for 3 weeks and when it is ready to mow please mow it on the highest setting or at least 2-inches high.
  • Sod rutted up due to vehicle traffic will be repaired by the city one time. Future damage due to vehicle traffic will not be repaired.
• The final lift of pavement is scheduled to be paved on Wednesday June 15th.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

• January 19, 2021. City Council orders the improvements, adopts the final assessment roll, and awarded a contract to S.R. Weidema, Inc. to complete the improvements. Construction is scheduled to begin in early summer 2021.
• December 15, 2020. Council approved the amended feasibility report and preliminary assessment roll.
• December 1, 2020. Contractor bids were received.
• October 20, 2020. City Council approved revised Plans and Specifications and authorized contractor bids.
• April 21, 2020: The City Council rejected all contractor bids. Council directed staff to re-bid the project so that the council may consider contractor bids for potential construction in year 2021.
• March 4, 2020: Contractor bids were received, resulting in project costs exceeding the project budget and preliminary assessment amounts.
• October 15, 2019: A Public Improvement Hearing was held. The City Council ordered the improvements and authorized the preparation and plans and specifications.
• September 17, 2019: City Council approved the feasibility report.

SCOPE OF IMPROVEMENTS:  The City of Lake Elmo received a petition in August 2018 requesting municipal sanitary sewer service for the Heritage Farms Subdivision. City staff has recommended that street and drainage improvements be completed at the same time if the project is implemented. A feasibility report for the project was accepted at the September 17, 2019 council meeting, and an amendment to the feasibility report was accepted at the December 15, 2020 council meeting to amend the estimated project costs and preliminary assessments.

The scope of improvements for the subdivision includes street reconstruction, drainage improvements, watermain oversizing and watermain repairs, and the extension of sanitary sewer main to each property. Complete replacement of the existing street section is proposed, including new concrete curb and gutter and storm sewer improvements. Sanitary sewer will be extended to the subdivision from 30th Street N.

PROJECT FUNDING:  The improvements will be paid for by using a combination of funding sources including the water and general enterprise funds, fund reserves, bond funds, and special assessments. 

Assessment details are as follows, subject to approval of the City Council:

• Street and drainage improvements will be assessed to the benefitting properties in accordance with the City Special Assessment Policy or as determined by the City Council. Residential properties will be assessed 30% of total costs on a per unit basis. The remaining 70% is paid through the City general fund.
• Sanitary sewer improvements will be assessed 100% to the benefiting properties on a residential equivalent unit method (REC). Properties receiving a service stub will be required to connect to the system two years after sewer becomes available for connection.
• Watermain reparation costs will be funded through the water enterprise fund.

FINAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND COST IMPACTS: Final assessments have been adopted by City Council and the final assessment rolls are available at the link at the bottom of the page and details each impacted property.

• Street and Drainage improvements assessment.
  • Residential property assessment is $13,600.
  • Assessments are payable over 15 years at an interest rate of 3.5%.
• Sanitary sewer improvements assessment.
  • Residential property assessment is $22,100.
  • Assessments are payable over 20 years at an interest rate of 3.5%.
• Additional sanitary sewer connection fees: Connection to the sanitary sewer will be required within two years of the project.
  • Sanitary Sewer Availability Charge - $3,000 per REC unit
  • Sanitary Sewer Connection Fee - $1,000 per REC unit
  • Sanitary Sewer Permit Application Fee - $60 per connection
  • Met Council Sewer Availability Charge - $2,485 per REC unit paid up front with permit.
  • Cost to run your private line from the property line to your home. This is a property-by-property specific charge. A typical cost for this connection for a residential property is $5,000-$10,000.
• The City Assessment Policy includes Hardship deferral provisions for qualifying property owners.

For information on the project please refer to the Feasibility Report link below or contact the City Engineering staff identified above.