An engineer’s estimate for replacement of water mains in several Grand Marais alleys missed estimating the cost of one of the blocks it was supposed to cover. At a September 22, 2010 meeting of the Public Utilities Commission, City Administrator Mike Roth estimated that the cost would be about 20% more than the original figure, which was around $120,000.
“Those things happen,” said PUC Commissioner Hal Greenwood.
The engineer’s estimate was revised to $178,804 to include the block that was left out previously. On October 4, the commissioners voted to accept a $209,298 bid from Wagner Construction of International Falls, the lowest of three bids.
Water mains will be replaced in the north-south alley between 1st and 2nd avenues east and 3rd and 4th streets and in the north-south and east-west alleys between Highway 61 and 1st Street and 3rd and 5th avenues west.
An Iron Range Resources grant will pay for $100,000 of the cost of the project. Cash in the city’s water fund will pay for the rest.
Creechville hookups
At the September 22 meeting, PUC commissioners voted to send letters to Creechville residents who had not hooked up to city sewer and water after lines were installed in front of 15 properties along that portion of 4th Avenue West a year ago. A grant paid for much of the cost of installing water and sewer along the right-of-way.
The city notified property owners in March that they were required to hook up to city sewer by the end of this year. The follow-up letters authorized in September would state that the status of their properties would be referred to the city attorney for court action if they have not hooked up by December 31.
Property owners have been offered 24 months of financing to pay for the $1,000 hookup fee (to help pay for the additional demand on the city’s water and sewer treatment system), a $300 fee for hardware and labor to connect to city sewer and another $300 fee to connect to city water, and a $75 fee for recording an easement with the county.
Of the 15 properties, two have had the work done and paid the fees. Three have completed all the hookups but haven’t paid the hookup charges. Two have connected to the sewer alone but have not installed meters on their wells. Two have brought the service lines into their homes but have not connected them to their plumbing. Six have done nothing. One was granted an extension until June 30, 2011 due to hardship.
Those property owners who preferred to continue using their own well water but have not yet installed meters in their wells (to determine how much to charge for sewer) will be charged for 5,000 gallons a month. Average use is 100 gallons a day per person.
Work across from library
At the same meeting, Water/ Wastewater Superintendent Tom Nelson reported that tree roots had plugged the eight-inch sewer lines under the street outside the Grand Marais Public Library. The street was torn up and the problem has been fixed.
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