07-25-1994 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD JULY 25, 1994 • ENGINEER REPORT ( #8) BID AWARD NORTH BROWN ROAD RECONSTRUCTION Engineer Cook explained that after receiving bids staff met with the property owners to discuss the project. There was overall approval of the project with concerns over whether the bike path should be 6' or 8' and questions about the storm sewer which has an impact on Homestead Trail. City Administrator Moorse added the issue of assessments of project costs to property owners. Mayor Callahan stated that there were MSA funds available for the road construction. Council had not decided if there would be an assessment for any additional monies needed. Since there have not been any similar projects recently, no policy has been established. There are a number of other projects facing the City in the near future, such as a stormwater project on Kelly Avenue and septic upgrades, with limited availability of funds to be considered. Heinz Hutter, 770 North Brown Road, questioned the necessity of widening, straightening and leveling Brown Road when all it really needs is resurfacing. He felt that as Highway 12 was upgraded, Brown Road would not provide access to the highway. He thought there may be other needs of the City that were more important. Many other residents agreed. Mayor Callahan stated that there was no Highway 12 plan at this time that excluded access from North Brown Road. Kelley asked for clarification since he thought the citizens were in favor of upgrading Brown • Road and now there seemed to be disagreement. Other councilmembers agreed. Charles Schroeder, 1925 West Farm Road, explained that if the project were to be done, then the input from the citizens at previous meetings should be considered. Since this is a substandard road, if it were resurfaced, it would have to be widened. In addition, the bike path would be included but the residents wished to keep it more like a "country lane". Goetten noted that it was decided to make a minimal road of 28', which is the City's minimum standard, rather than the 32' or 36' as suggested by the Engineer. She asked how many of those present had been at the previous informational meeting. Many had attended but there were several who had not. Jabbour stated that for Orono to get MSA funding, minimum standards are required. Cook confirmed that if the road were to be repaved at its current width, the City would have to pay for the entire project. MSA funding would cover 93 % of the project if built to MSA standards. City Administrator Moorse explained that there are MSA funds available but not enough to do all future road projects in the City. Residents who were present felt they should not have to pay the amount not covered by MSA funds because North Brown Road is used by many others traveling between Highway 6 and Highway 12, not just those residents along the road. 6 0