Sue Sitter/PCT Work on a section of city water and sewer infrastructure from 2 ½ Avenue West to Seventh Avenue Southwest closed off a section of Highway 3 during the week of June 5.

The Rugby City Council approved a payment of more than $500,000 for work on storm drain infrastructure in an area that includes 2 ½ Avenue at its regular meeting held June 6.

Council members also heard updates on the project’s progress from Jim Olson of AE2S, a firm providing engineering services for the city.

The project spans an area beginning near 2 1/2 Avenue, extending to sections of Sixth Street, Third Avenue, and Seventh Street, crossing Highway 3 to the west. Some of the project lies on land owned by M.J. McGuire Automotive.

Construction temporarily detoured traffic away from a section of the highway near the dealership and Heart of America Johnson Clinic June 3-8.

Olson submitted a pay application for $554,801.54 by Wagner Construction of International Falls, Minn., which oversees the infrastructure work.

Olson submitted a construction change order for a cost increase of $7,131.42.

“This increase is for everything we hit at Fifth Avenue west of (Council Member Frank) LaRocque’s house,” Olson said, referring to a section of the project.

“These were unforeseen conditions and the USDA is aware of it. I had a meeting with them on it. At that time, I explained it to a few council members.”

Olson said the crew discovered an abandoned storm drain that caused them to have to lay pipes deeper than they had planned.

The crew had also discovered a cast-iron part to the line that tied into a trailer park on the west side of the city. They replaced the attachment.

“They wanted more money for it, but I think we got off cheap with seven grand,” Olson said of the changes.

The council voted unanimously to pay the construction bill and change order. Olson said the bills would go before the state engineer, the USDA, City Auditor Jennifer Stewart, and Mayor Sue Steinke for their signatures.

Olson said after the city meets a minimum payout of $300,000, the city begins to tap into a bond fund to pay for the project, which includes engineering fees for AE2S.

Reimbursements from the USDA will come once the project is completed. The USDA will pay for the project with a combination of a $1.7 million grant and a 40-year, low interest to total $4.9 million.

Olson showed the council photos of the work in progress.

“These are the pictures of what’s been going on at the intersection of Highway 3,” he said, referring to where the highway meets Seventh Street Southwest, just south of the M.J. McGuire auto dealership.

Olson estimated the project would close the section of highway near the intersection for “possibly three to six days.”

“Things have been going good,” he added. “We hit no groundwater over there. They’ll be probably very close to cleanup by the end of the day (June 7). You’ll see a big pile of asphalt millings on the road temporarily. I know it looks like a train wreck, Frank, in your area, but when it’s done, it’s going to look good.”

In related business, the council listened to concerns voiced by Josh Mattson, manager at M.J. McGuire Automotive. Mattson told the council the dealership had been promised repairs to a crumbling manhole on their lot in exchange for an easement on their property for the 2 ½ Avenue Project.

Lotvedt and Olson suggested placing an extra city-owned manhole cover from the Chalmers Addition and connect a new manhole to the storm sewer.

Olson said the project could be paid for by contingency funds in the 2 ½ Avenue Project.

The council voted to approve placement of the manhole without a special meeting if the cost stayed under a $5,000 limit.

The council reviewed committee reports, bills, and financials. They also reviewed financials and minutes from the Rugby Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Rugby Job Development Authority. Council members Wayne Trottier and Neil Lotvedt asked several questions about bills to the city for both construction services and the Rugby Job Development Authority.

After reading the minutes from the JDA’s May regular meeting, Lotvedt asked why the JDA owned “a vacant building in Dunseith,” referring to the JDA-owned Heart of America Dunseith Clinic, which had been leased back to Heart of America Medical Center with a triple-net lease along with HAMC’s Johnson Clinic in Rugby.

Hospital CEO Erik Christenson, who attended the council meeting, said under the lease, HAMC agreed to pay for regular building upkeep. However, the hospital recently learned the Dunseith building needed major repairs, and was in the process of seeking legal advice about property purchases or transfers.

Lotvedt questioned expenses for the city recreation department on repairs on fence posts at the recreation complex, saying the repairs differed from the plan approved by the committee.

The council voted to pay for the repairs.

Olson also updated the council on projects to replace roofs on the Rugby Armory and swimming pool buildings.

Olson estimated work on the armory roof would wrap up by June 17. Work on the swimming pool roof would begin immediately after that.

“Talking about the swimming pool, left to do is the humidistat wiring,” Olson said. “The fans work, you can turn them on manually. We’ll be scheduling a walk-through.”

Olson submitted a $25,200 bill for work done on the swimming pool building by Mike Swanson Construction, Rugby.

“Mike still has about $21,000 left for payment,” Olson noted.

The council approved a variance request by Rugby resident Toby McCabe for construction on his property. The request had been approved by the city planning and zoning committee.

The council listened to a legal opinion from City Attorney Bill Hartl about the First Amendment and its application to council members.

The council also voted to pledge community support for construction of a new Heart of America Medical Center on the east side of the city. Christenson, who asked for the support, said the hospital needed the statement to comply with requirements for USDA funding.

The council approved first readings of City Ordinances 436 and 437, which would enable bars outside of the city limits to obtain temporary permits to serve liquor within the city for special events such as the Pierce County Fair.

Please Enter Your Facebook App ID. Required for FB Comments. Click here for FB Comments Settings page

Copyright © The Pierce County Tribune | https://www.thepiercecountytribune.com | 219 South Main Ave., Rugby, ND 58368 | 701-776-5252