Centerville Tidbits
City Prepares To Take Trail Project Bids
At its April 14 meeting, the Centerville City Council voted to authorize Bonestroo Engineering to proceed with the bidding process for the city’s $1,053,000 2010 Trail Enhancement Project.
A $791,280 federal grant will fund 75% of the trail project, which will connect neighborhood trails with the larger regional trail network and construct two small trailside parks in the downtown area.
Cornerstone Park, located near St. Genevieve’s Church on a property remnant left aft er the reconstruction of Main Street, comprises 7,000 square feet in size but will include a concrete fountain and either a pergola or kiosk—or maybe both.
Nearby Trailside Park, about one-third the size of its larger neighbor, will include trail wayside benches.
After City Engineer Mark Statz recommended choosing a single design type for the pergola to simplify the bidding process, council members agreed that sandblasted concrete posts were preferable as they would be less vulnerable than wood posts to certain types of vandalism and, unlike metal posts, would not require painting.
The pergola was a lastminute addition, City Adproducts ministrator Dallas Larson said, because “initially, [the Parks & Recreation Committee] thought that we couldn’t afford it.”
However, Larson said, if the competitive bidding climate seen so far this spring holds steady, it is possible that the pergola and/or kiosk will be built. That decision will be made at the time the contract is awarded in June.
The project is scheduled to be completed by late this fall.
Water Service Connection Grant “Is A Go”
The council also authorized Bonestroo to proceed with the preparation of plans and specifi cations for the provision of water service to 25 qualifying homes in the city.
The city learned earlier this month that its application for a federal Community Development Block Grant to provide municipal water service to low-to-moderate income families was successful.
The grant, administered by Anoka County, received formal approval from the County Board on April 13.
Bonestroo was authorized by unanimous vote to spend no more than $9,300 to prepare the construction documents; bids are scheduled to be opened on June 23, 2010. Construction is planned for July and August.
A survey sent out by the city last year identifi ed 60 homeowners who were interested in the project; only 25 met income requirements.
The $215,000 grant will fully fund the water service connection, water meters, and all hookup costs, including city permits, for the 25 homes.
The project does not include any new water main construction, Larson confirmed.
“We’ve never been able to do anything like this before,” Mayor Mary Capra said, before requesting that staff send a letter of thanks to the Anoka County Board.
In other action, the council:
• Approved an encroachment agreement for a fence within a drainage easement at 7224 Mill Road.
• Approved a special event permit for Tom Nelson on behalf of the Cub Scout Rocket Launch event planned at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for June 5 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Approved a maintenance agreement with Rice Creek Watershed District for stormwater management facilities constructed as part of the city’s trail project.
• Approved a rental agreement with Paul Steffel Insurance Agency for cityowned property at 1737 Main Street.
• Postponed consideration of an ordinance barring the use of coal tar-based sealer Adproducts within the City of Centerville until April 28. Coal tar-based products are diff erent from asphalt- based sealer products and have been identifi ed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as having a negative environmental eff ect on lakes, rivers and streams, Larson told council. Aft er hearing that the MPCA is not banning the sale of such products, however, Council Member Linda Broussard Vickers identified the proposed ordinance as one the council has “little-to-no chance of enforcing.”
• Approved an exempt gambling permit for St. Genevieve Catholic Church to hold a raffle on July 25.
• Approved a transient sales permit for Window Concepts of Minnesota for April 15 through May 15, 2010.
• Agreed to hold a council site visit on Clearwater Drive on April 28 at 5:30 p.m. to meet with the contractor and identify a course of action relative to alleged damage to the street during last summer’s construction project.
• Acknowledged the resignation of Planning Commission member Mark Pangell eff ective March 29.