Perham plans street reconstruction
Published Tuesday, March 27, 2007
After 10 years of planning and waiting in line for funding, Perham’s’ Second Street project should begin this summer, providing a better road surface, updated water and sewer lines and a more appealing overall look to that portion of the city’s vital business district.
The scope of the project covers nine blocks of Second Street, reaching from Seventh Ave. SE to Fourth Ave., SW, as well as four intersecting one-block sections of street between Second Street and Main Street, some of which will have new trees planted, decorative street lights installed and their sidewalks rebuilt with brick pavers to match those already in place on Main Street.
The project awaits only final approval form the county and state before the request for bids can go out.
“We’ve been working very closely with the county since 1996,” City Manager Robert Louiseau said.
The Second Street project and the recently completed Main Street project were both planned during that time, he said, but there was a debate on how to fund the $2.8 million Second Street project.
“Minnesota hasn’t raised its gas tax or transportation funding for 10 years,” he said. “Funding is still okay for main trunk (highways) needs, but not for localized projects.”
This created a backlog of work to be completed, as projects in line ahead of Perham were delayed due to funding issues.
“We were originally expecting to get started in 1999 or 2000,” he said.
The county finally did get enough other projects completed for Perham to get started.
The county and state will provide $750,000 for the work, and the city of Perham will contribute $1.25 million. The remaining approximately $800,000 will be paid for by the Second Street property owners.
“They will see assessments on their taxes,” Louiseau said. “Over 15 years, they will pay approximately $13,500 for the basic street and sewer line work, and $15,500 if their property gets the decorative pavers and trees.
The project will be completed in phases so that no business will be without customer or delivery access at any given time, Louiseau said.
“We anticipate the project will take most of the summer.”
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