WILLMAR -- The Willmar City Council on Monday approved the 2008 public works project list, including further evaluation of options for the flood-prone intersection of 10th Street and Kandiyohi Avenue Southwest.
In a 7-1 vote, the council also passed a motion to direct city staff to evaluate the storm water alternatives for options that may include swapping or trading city lots with homeowners wanting to move their homes from the 10th Street/Kandiyohi Avenue area. The motion, by council member Steve Gardner, seeks a report on the options from city staff by June. Council member Doug Reese cast the only vote against the motion.
"No specific projects have been evaluated," Gardner said. "The folks in that entire neighborhood deserve that consideration."
The council voted in November not to negotiate the purchase of the home of Warren and Jan Lee Jorgenson at 1000 Kandiyohi Ave. S.W. The home was heavily damaged by flooding from an Aug. 20 rainstorm.
Since then the council has explored building water detention areas at Garfield and Kennedy schools and along Trott Avenue Southwest.
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It has been determined that the Kennedy site was not adequate, but the Garfield and Trott Avenue areas were included on the 2008 project list.
Council member Ron Christianson estimated there are about 200 empty lots in town, some in older, established developments, valued between $20,000 and $45,000. Warren Jorgenson told the council he be "more than willing to look" at a lot that was offered. Council member Rick Fagerlie sought to expand the offer to others in the same area.
Gardner stressed that he was seeking an examination of options in addition to the storm water detention ponds, and told the rest of the council they wouldn't need to decide anything right away.
"We simply need to evaluate what needs to be done at that intersection," he said.
City administrator Michael Schmidt told the council that the motion made the staff directive "much more clear" and that a report could be made by June.
The project list includes also reconstruction of Third and Fourth Streets Southeast between Becker and Minnesota Avenues, planning and design of downtown access off Litchfield Avenue, underground utility work and street lighting for several housing and business developments, new construction and storm water work to alleviate flooding along Pleasant View Drive Southeast and a path from the Willmar YMCA to Olena Avenue.
In other action, the council:
- Approved a new schedule of city fees for services, permits and rental rates for city equipment. The list includes increased fees for city equipment rental to rental and admission fees for city ball fields, the Civic Center and the Aquatic Center.
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irectly to the bank at 702 Prentice Street, Granite Falls.
