City hosts open house for $3.2 million street/utility project

Many rumors and concerns were put to bed the evening of Thursday, Feb. 27, when the City of New Richland and the engineering firm of Bolton and Menk held an open house at which residents could learn details and have their questions answered regarding the $3.2 million street and utility reconstruction project set to take place this summer.

The project will include complete replacement of underground utilities as well as regrading and resurfacing the street, curbs and sidewalks on two blocks of Ash Avenue South; Third Street Southeast; Fourth Street Southwest, and two blocks of South Broadway Avenue. A new cul-de-sac will also be added to Third Street Southeast.

This project, which began with a preliminary engineering report in May of 2024, is about halfway through its timeline. After Thursday's meeting, the council will look to approve final plans and specifications in a March council meeting and then begin advertising for bids. 

The stated purpose of the Feb. 27 meeting was to hear concerns, answer questions, and entertain any possible changes to the project before final approval. 

“The intent tonight is to convey progress of design and receive feedback and share how we’ve responded to that feedback,” Cory Bienfang of Bolton and Menk shared. 

Asked why the city chose the streets it did, Bienfang said, “These are streets with significant need and this is the project that the city can afford.”

Project Specifications 

Under all streets scheduled as part of the project, sanitary sewers and underground utilities will be replaced. Bienfang described the current infrastructure as “failing and undersized.” 

Broadway Ave. S.: The street will remain at its current 40-foot width. Sidewalks on both the east and west sides will be replaced.

Ash Ave. S.: This street, which runs along the east face of the school building, will be widened to 40 feet by decreasing the boulevard near the newly paved parking lot on the east side of the road. The wider surface is meant to accommodate two twelve-foot-wide through lanes for traffic, as well as eight-foot-wide parking lanes on both the east and west sides. The newly constructed parking lot will not be affected. 

“We met with the school and are adamant about not interrupting regular school activities during construction,” city administrator Anthony Martens said during the open house. “Nothing will be done to the new parking lot. The one thing changing will be new approaches into the parking lot.”

Martens said a beneficial part of the project will be a new, “very safe” and ‘well lit” street crossing between the school and the parking lot, as well as a “well painted and signed crosswalk.’

“We’re really hoping it will be a good experience [for users],” Martens concluded. 

Fourth Street SW: The street will be resurfaced and remain 31 feet wide. New sidewalk connecting Ash and Broadway Ave. will be installed on the south side. 

Third St. SE: The most controversial street in this project will see the street narrowed to 36 feet wide and moved about three feet south in some portions to straighten the road.  A cul-de-sac will be installed on the east end to help improve water drainage. 

“You have to think about the people who live there,” resident James Stringfield told Bolton and Menk. “You’re not looking at my property. No one utilizes that part of the sidewalk… I’m losing shade trees… bird feeders. I sure would like to save those.”

“We’re here today to take feedback and understand,” Bienfang answered. “The intent of the project is to be mindful of all the improvements… We’re trying to do it in the most thoughtful way.”

“I’m assessed $27,000 and I’m not getting any value out of it,” Stringfield responded. “[That] $27,000 isn’t going to increase the value of my property. If no one is listening, what can I do?” Stringfield asked. 

Bienfang offered to meet with Stringfield and discuss the possibility of saving one of the trees. It was also shared that sewer lines run right under the trees in question. 

Stringfield, along with any others with concerns, were also encouraged to direct their opinions to the city council. 

Street Assessments

In order to pay for this $3.2 million improvement, the city is bonding for approximately $2.7 million and assessing $467,000 from property owners. 

The city has not used special assessments to collect funds for construction in more than a decade; local residents have stated the additional taxes will be a burden.

Asked why the city can’t bond for the entire $3.2 million, administrator Martens said assessment is “a ‘normal part of an improvement process.

“We would love to not charge [individual street assessments],” said Martens. “But these types of projects can’t be done without them.”

He also said the cost of the bonds and the burden to the taxpayers would be too great. 

Martens said no grants could be obtained for this project because it is categorized as normal improvement and regular maintenance. 

Many residents came to the Feb. 27 open house with concerns; many left satisfied.

Sharon Eckart, who met with Bolton and Menk in her home to talk about her concerns, said she is now feeling confident about the project.

“I still have questions that I’ll ask later on, but I know they will get answered,” Eckart stated. “I’m impressed with this engineering firm.

“Corey Bienfang is honest, down to earth,” Eckart praised. “And he listened to me and Norm.”

Administrator Martens said Bienfang “deserves some praise. He’s done a great job.”

Going forward, the council will have to approve the final plans for this project and authorize bids. Their next regular meeting is scheduled for March 10. 

Approximately a month after that approval, the city will call for an assessment hearing for assessed property owners. Construction is likely to start in June with completion projected in May of 2026.