Minutes - Council - 06/08/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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cotmty has verbally agreed to participate at 30 percent, which is customary. That four million dollars will help to cover a percentage of the money that is being authorized tonight. Councilmember Kurak noted Sunfish Lake Boulevard did not have a complete overlay, and the part south of the railroad tracks was left out. She asked if the county will be more involved in that aspect with Ramsey Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard. Assistant Public Works Director Olson explained the construction activity that occurred was that they milled up the existing surface and used it as a Class 5, so they had a base they could put over the top. Sunfish Lake Boulevard has been classified as a construction of an urban four lane divided roadway fi'om a point 600 feet south to a point 1,400 feet north of TH 10. They are not going that entire length in the four lane divided section and the county has agreed to 30 percent of the cost. Councilmember Elvig commented that road has deteriorated and there will be more significant problems by 2007/2008. Mayor Gamec noted right now Mr. Berg is looking for funds to do things temporarily. There will be a cost of $200,000 to $300,000 just to move the lights. There may be some funds available for another project where they may do some temporary work. Assistant Public Works Director Olson explained southbound there will be one right turn lane, one through lane, and two south bound turn lanes. They knew there would be some reconfiguration at the intersection and did not want to throw money away. There are federal funds lined up. He indicated it is not to say it is not possible to ask the county for more participation for that section of road, as it is possible to do that. However, they have structured a good deal for the City. Councilmeinber Cook commented an AUAR was done for the intersections being freeway status and having interchanges. Assistant Public Works Director Olson stated he would love to say the interchanges will go in in three to five years, but basically if they do not have federal backing on the interchanges the state does not have money lined up to make that happen, nor are they planning on putting that into their transportation system plan. The state is severely under-funded, at somewhere in the lines of 10 billion dollars over the next biennium. They just do not have enough transportation funding in the state to deal with expansion projects, they have concentrated all the funds on trying to rehabilitate the streets they have. This is not to say it cannot happen with some federal funding, but they would have to bring new funds to the table. He stated it is important to note this 14 million dollars will not be thrown away. These are county roadway improvements that will continue to be there; there might be some replaced with the interchange work in the future, but a good portion will continue to be permanent. City Council/June 8, 2004 Page 20 of 23