Northfield Councilors Approve $1.5 Million Street Reconstruction Projects

Some Northfield property owners on Linden, Plum and Second streets will be assessed more than $10,000 after the City Council on Tuesday approved a $1.5 million street and utility improvement project.

City officials say most assessments will range between $7,500 and $8,000, with the highest assessment estimated at $14,125 and the smallest assessment estimated at $3,565. Residents have 10 years to pay the assessments, with the first payment due in January 2012.

For the work, councilors accepted a bid from Faribault-based BCM Construction for the project with a bid of $1.48 million—about $500,000 less than initial project estimates. Six companies made bids.

Assessment rates for the project are $150 per linear foot for commercial properties and $115 per linear foot for residential properties.

Erica Zweifel cast the lone dissenting vote over her objection to the project’s 2-foot widening of the streets, which she said would be too great a cost due to increased traffic speed and the loss of trees, affecting the intimate feel of the neighborhood.

Following up on complaints raised at a December hearing on the project, councilors approved the creation of a tree replacement fund for such projects.

At-large councilor Rhonda Pownell dissented, arguing the existing policy for replacement was sufficient.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May, proceeding through the summer, according to City Engineer Katy Gehler.

Update on train depot

Councilors also discussed the factors affecting a different kind of transportation project—whether the city should support moving the town’s historic train depot onto city land.

While supporters argue the project preserves Northfield’s heritage and provides the base for a bus and bike transit hub, others say a proposed relocation to the city's Q-Block (the block that the Quarterback Club is on) would subtract potentially taxable city property and require rerouting of some utilities.

“We’re really going to have to make the case that this is a good economic decision,” said Rossing, citing the Q-Block site’s value. “Are we putting the cart before the horse on the need for a transportation hub?”

Economic Development Director Jody Gunderson said city officials will meet with members of the Save the Northfield Depot advocacy group to address issues relating to the potential sale or gifting of the property, as well as how the relocated depot would affect transportation flow and nearby parking.

In other news

Councilors also approved Rossing’s appointments to committees in charge of compiling rubrics to aid the selection of a site (or reuse of the current site) for a .

Dissatisfaction with the project’s lack of specifics led councilors to vote down financing of the project in early March, with councilors asking for sites closer to downtown.

Councilors also unanimously approved a 10-year, interest-free loan from the state’s economic development agency to aid local businesses affected by floods.