Council tables South Shore project to mull assessment comments

    Clear Lake City Council members voted Wednesday to table discussion of South Shore Drive reconstruction to consider its plan to assess the work to the 135 affected property owners.
    About 75 persons attended a public hearing Wednesday to comment on the assessment process the city planned to use for the $1.85 million project.  Assessments would account for approximately $800,000 of the project cost.  
    Federal funds totaling $515,000 and general obligation bonds issued by the city represent the remaining funding.
    According to City Administrator Scott Flory, the average assessment against an affected property is $7,000.  The cost may be as high as $14,000 for some.  Flory noted Clear Lake has a long history of paying for street reconstruction projects, such as the one proposed for South Shore Drive, through the assessment process.  Approximately one-half of communities in the state use the assessment process for street and infrastructure projects.  Notices of assessments to property owners may be reduced if the end project costs less than estimated, however, the assessment may never be increased.  Assessments are payable over 10 years.
    The Council said it will place the South Shore Drive project on its April 7 agenda for a decision.  In the meantime, Council representatives say they will review written and oral comments on the assessment process.
    Councilman Ben Furleigh was absent from the public hearing, but is expected to be present at the April 7 regular meeting.  
    In January, the Council approved a one-way concept for an eight-block stretch of South Shore Drive from 4th Avenue South to 12th Avenue South.  Although the one-way concept has also received some objection from the public, Wednesday’s hearing involved only the assessment process to be used, rather than design issues.  Further discussion of those concerns will be heard once street reconstruction is complete, say city officials.
    The estimated $1.84 million project will be bid through the DOT.  Underground infrastructure work, including water and sewer line replacement will take place this fall, with paving scheduled for spring 2009.
    A tentative schedule would have bids let for the project in July-August 2008, and underground work beginning by September 2008.  The goal would be to complete underground work and place rock over the top by year-end.  Complete pavement removal and paving would take place in late spring 2009, with completion prior to the July 4 holiday activities in Clear Lake.