Council hears from property owners along 7th St. West

CRESCO - About a dozen locals attended a public hearing regarding the proposed 7th St. West Reconstruction Project and the assessment for properties abutting the road.

Representatives of the engineering firm of WHKS explained the project.

Daren Sikkink and Scott Huneke stated the assessment would only include 50% of the accessable street cost  and would not include any water, sewer, intersections and any extra costs. The City of Cresco would be responsible for that. The assessment given to the property owners will not go up in price, even if the project increases.

The estimated total cost is $3,077,175, with the property owner portion being $455,376 and the City’s portion being $2,621,799.

Tom Barnes, Executive Director of the Howard County Fair Board asked if work around the 7th St. gate could be held off until after the 2023 and 2024 fair . . . especially the concrete part.

Brandon Plaht asked why the project ended where it did. “Why didn’t it continue all the way to 6th St.?”

Sikkink answered the council settled on a dollar amount for the work being done.

Mayor Dave Brenno added the utilities further north are in better shape than the ones being replaced toward Hwy. 9.

Contractor Aaron Wemark questioned if six inches of concrete would be enough. “You have a lot of trucks going by — the County, Donaldson’s, the Livestock.”

Sikkink noted that if they did decide to go thicker, that would be a change order that the City would be responsible for.

Pat Ryan spoke on behalf of his son, saying the vast majority of usage on that road is commercial. He wanted Council to consider giving the residents a break.

Council voted to move forward with the project.

• In other business, the Class C retail alcohol license was approved for Big Daddy Hideaway Corp, dba Sweeney’s Lounge.

• Public Works Director Nate Widell reported 500,000 gallons of sludge was hauled out. About 100,000 is left, and will be removed in the spring.

Another watermain was repaired, this one being four on the year.

“Two more nuisance abatement issues have been sent to the attorney for processing,” he added.

• Council person Alex Fortune was happy to say the Theatre almost sold out of Looney Lutheran tickets at 433. The event was sponsored by Cresco Bank & Trust, and the Theatre raised over $11,000.

• Council person Gary Kriener has talked to Howard County Conservation members, who are interested in developing the old Boy Scout camp located by King’s Road.

• The recreational vehicle ordinance was amended with a second reading.

• Sewer adjustments were approved for Dulcie Ollendieck and Howard County Expo.

• Council authorized the Mayor to enter into a professional services agreement with WHKS for the Cresco Wastewater Treatment Plant – Nutrient Reduction Study Supplement. 

The next meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m.