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As section 1 of Gaylord’s street and utility improvement project comes to a close, section 2 kicked off last week with excavation work for utility extensions.

Section 1 of the City’s street and utility project is near completion, according to Justin Black of Short Elliot Hendrickson (Inc). Top soil is being applied this week to properties disturbed by the project. Workers will then begin laying sod in those areas, Black explained.

Work on Section 1 began in April. It included street and/or utility improvements on First and Second Street, Columbia Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and High Avenue (east of Third Street). A bid of $1,578,587 was accepted by the City for Section 1 work. That was nearly $713,000 less than the engineer’s estimate.

Section 2 started on schedule and as planned with excavation work west of Highway 22 on the northwest end of town. SEH is referring to Section 2 work as the “ball park” portion of the project. It will include street and utility improvements near the City park on the following roads: Park Drive, Veterans Drive, Fourth Street (north of Park Avenue), Fifth Street (north of Park Avenue) and Linden Avenue.

Three months ago, the City Council approved a bid of $914,940 for Section 2 work. That low bid was submitted by Chard Tiling and Excavating, Inc. of Belle Plaine. Engineers estimated that Section 2 of street and utility improvements would cost $1.17 million.

In order to serve the swimming pool area with better underground utilities, workers are boring under highway 22 and extending those services to the west. The property being disrupted by the work was once site of a running track. It is owned by Sibley East and is used by the school for junior high football practice and games.

A letter from the City of Gaylord, sent in December and signed by former City Administrator Lonny Johnson, stated that this part of the project would not start until football practice and games on the field were completed. Black said SEH was not part of this communication. Project representatives recently met with Sibley East Superintendent John Langenbrunner and he agreed that work could begin in this area, Black explained. He said rain has slowed this part of the project but excavators should be through the area by the end of this week.

Workers will soon be excavating around the pool and baseball park area, according to Black. Contractors, engineers and City staff will meet each Wednesday at City Hall (9:00 a.m.) to discuss the progress of the project. These meetings are open to the public. SEH will also distribute weekly newsletters to property owners affected by the project.

In other action:

• Acting City Administrator Lori Waltz reported that MnDOT is planning to reconstruct Highway 22. According to Waltz, work would begin on the south edge of town, proceed to the stop lights, then go east and west on downtown streets, then north on Highway 22. The project is scheduled for 2011 and 2012, Waltz said.