Residents raise questions regarding special assessments

Two separate projects discussed

The 2015 PCC Paving Project No. 1 and the 2015 HMGP West Central Sewer Retrofit Project will move forward despite residents coming forward against the projects during public hearings with the Spencer City Council Monday.

After three public hearings, two regarding the 2015 PCC Paving Project No. 1 and one regarding the 2015 HMGP West Central Sewer Retrofit Projects, the council voted unanimously to approve both projects' resolutions of necessity, as well as the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the 2015 PCC Paving Project.

"The (PCC Paving Project) hearing pertains to the assessable portion of the project which consists of the installation of PCC pavement, PCC sidewalk and other incidental items," Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen explained. "The location of the project is along Fourth Avenue East, from 14th Street to 18th Street, and Third Avenue East, from 11th Street to 13th Street. The project has been on the five-year CIP since 2005/2008 and was extended out to 2015, which was a little bit longer than the original plan."

The project would replace the sealcoat street on Fourth Avenue East and Third Avenue East with a new and more durable concrete pavement. The city would use its long standing policy of assessing the abutting property owners 80 percent of the cost of the street and the city would pay the remaining 20 percent. Also included in the project is a component of sidewalk replacement or infill that will be assessed in a similar manner as the street portion of the project.

Two residents of the area in question, Mazy Van Kleek and Vonada Williamson, submitted letters to the council against the assessment of the project. Brent Biekert, who lives on Third Avenue East, also shared his concerns with the project during the hearing.

"The letter the city sent me said I am being specially assessed because I am getting a special benefit from the completion of this project," Biekert explained. "I would like to know exactly what that special benefit is because I already have a nice sidewalk and driveway. All this project is doing is change the street from a hard pack pavement to concrete and that really doesn't change my property value at all. I don't see how that is a 'special benefit.'"

"As defined by the law, it is an added benefit because concrete is a better surface than a sealcoat street," Fagen answered. "Generally when you look at a home, a home on a concrete street has a better value than one not on a concrete street."

The entire PCC Paving Project will consist of the installation of PCC pavement, PCC sidewalks, water main, storm sewer intakes and sanitary sewer and is estimated to cost $785,004. The street and sidewalk portions of the project will be paid out of the Street Reserve Fund and special assessments, the other areas covered by the project will come out of the Storm Water Reserve Fund, Sanitary Sewer Reserve Fund and SMU will cover the expenses related to the water main.

The public hearing concerning 2015 HMGP West Central Retrofit Project was similar to that of the aforementioned 2015 PCC Paving Project in that the hearing pertained to "the assessable portion of the project which consists of the installation of PCC pavement, PCC sidewalk and other incidental items." Again the city would use its 80/20 assessing policy for this project.

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Residents raise questions regarding special assessments