City determines assessments for Second Street project

During the regular Waseca city council meeting the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 20, Nate Willey, Waseca city engineer, summarized financial information regarding the Second Street NW reconstruction project which took place this past summer. As of September 11, the total project cost was $5.2 million, about $630,000 less than originally estimated. 

 

About 30 residential and 10 commercial properties will be assessed taxes for the project: Assessments for residential properties range from around $4,000 to nearly $9,500. Commercial properties will be assessed between about $5,000 and as much as about $89,000. Any amounts not paid by Nov. 19 will be added to the property taxes for each location and divided out among the next 10 years. 

 

Two separate State Airport Fund grants have been approved for $4,500 in funding toward the Waseca Airport precision approach path indicator (PAPI) and runway end identifier light (REIL) installation project. 

 

The council voted to officially accept a $5,300 grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to the Waseca Police Department. The grant is designated for additional efforts toward enforcing laws regarding specific driving behaviors including impaired or distracted driving, seatbelt use, and speeding.

 

Cindy Kolander, Executive Director to the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center (WANSC), alerted the council about the Knights of Columbus coat distribution which took place at the Center on Monday, Oct. 26. Two years ago, 92 coats went out and she was hoping to match that number.

 

Regarding the West Interchange Land Use Designation and Funding Application, said Carl Sonnenberg, “The landowners along County Road 2 have decided not to support the City’s intention to create an Industrial 3 Zoning district. The reason is not allowing retail and the increase in real-estate taxes. Not allowing retail is based on state criteria from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic development for their grant program, the Business Development Infrastructure Program. On the plus side, four landowners have agreed to the rural service district annexation. Taxes will remain the same under this designation. There is also a possible four-acre parcel at a prime development site. This should also help to jump start development in this area.”

 

The next city council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, not Tuesday, Nov. 3 because of the election.