Cost of repaving Crest View goes up

Talk about it

The Hudson City Council received some unwelcome news about the cost of resurfacing Crest View Drive at its meeting Monday night.

Chuck Schwartz of the city’s consulting engineering firm, Bonestroo, said the preliminary estimate of the cost of milling and overlaying the four-lane road from Carmichael Road to Heggen and 11th streets is between $850,000 and $900,000.

That’s twice, or nearly twice, as much as the $450,000 the council provided for the project in its 2008 capital projects bond issue that was approved Monday night.

The council, nevertheless, authorized Bonestroo to prepare plans and specifications for the Crest View resurfacing and advertise for contractor bids on the project.

Public Works Department Lead Man Tom Zeuli said the city could ask for bids on two alternatives — resurfacing just the portion of Crest View between Carmichael and Industrial Street or resurfacing the entire length from Carmichael to Heggen.

If the bids for resurfacing the longer segment are too high, the city could opt to do the shorter stretch, he said.

Alderman Alan Burchill asked if there is money that could be taken from other street projects and applied to the Crest View project.

Zeuli said there is. He said the repaving of 11th Street could be postponed, along with some sidewalk repair work.

Zeuli and Schwartz also were asked about milling off and replacing just two inches of the old asphalt instead of the three inches called for in the preliminary plans.

Schwartz said it might be possible to mill and overlay a two-inch mat in some places.

Public Works Department Chairman Scot O’Malley said a three-inch mat is needed in most places to eliminate cracks and extend the life of the new road surface.

“I suggest we go forward, but develop some alternatives,” Mayor Dean Knudson said prior to the vote authorizing the drafting of project plans. He indicated that he would look for money elsewhere in the 2008 budget to devote to the Crest View project.

The City Council also is looking at an expensive Carmichael Road repaving project south of I-94 in 2009.

Bond issue

Sean Lentz of Ehlers & Associates, the city financial advisers, had better news for the council regarding the bids on $1,925,000 worth of general obligation promissory notes the city issued to fund 2008 capital projects and refinance an existing loan.

Lentz said Moody Investor’s Service had upgraded the city’s bond rating from A1 to AA3, resulting in a lower interest rate for the city.

M&I Bank of Milwaukee purchased the notes at a fixed rate of 3.39 percent over the 10-year life of the notes, Lentz reported.

“We’re very pleased with the results. I think the city did very well today,” he said.

Lentz said there was a lot of interest in Hudson’s bond issue, owing in part to its improved bond rating.

In a busy, two-and-one-half-hour meeting, the council also approved the first reading of an ordinance amending the City Code to allow non-profit boardinghouses in industrial zoning districts.

The change would allow Open Door Rescue Mission, headed by Tom Hennes, to open a residential drug treatment center for women and their children in the former Bear Buddies daycare facility at the corner of Heggen Street and Beaudry Boulevard.

The council will give final consideration to the zoning amendment at its next meeting.

Tags: news, hudson, citycouncil, crestview, paving