HomeMy WebLinkAboutDeputy Mayor's Statement( 0
Of HKO H
ON THE WATER
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Steven M. Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works
DATE: May 19, 2010
RE: Citizen Petition to Defer Street Improvements on Frankfort Street from 2010 CIP to 2011
CIP
BACKGROUND
A citizen petition has been filed to delay the reconstruction of Frankfort Street from 2010 until 2011 to
allow undergrounding of the private overhead utilities. These utilities include electric, cable N, and
telephone. Below is additional information on the topic and cost estimates. The estimates are not based
on the specifics of the street but are a general representation of what can be expected.
ANALYSIS
The petition requests the delay of the reconstruction of Frankfort Street until 2011 to allow the overhead
utilities to be buried as part of the project. The delay is needed to coordinate the work necessary to bury
the main transmission lines as well as the service lines to each house. Easements will need to be
acquired from a majority of the properties to allow the utility equipment (items such as pedestals and
transformers) to be placed on the private property near the public sidewalk. The easements likely will
require compensation, to property owners, to acquire and may require condemnation if the property
owners do not cooperate.
Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) requires that all homeowners agree to receive an underground service, if
a homeowner refuses, a pole will be required. Each homeowner must hire an electrician to prepare the
home to accept the new underground service. The estimated cost is $800 to $4,000 per home. Each
home must also have a new underground service line installed. The estimated cost is $600 to $800 per
home. The cost to connect each home to the underground mainline /distribution system ranges from
$1,400 to $4,800. If the telephone connections need to be relocated on or in the house, additional costs
will be incurred.
Currently Frankfort Street and Harney Avenue are scheduled for reconstruction in 2010. Harney Avenue
is dependent on Frankfort Street. Until the deeper sanitary sewer and storm sewer are available on
Frankfort Street, the utilities on Harney Avenue cannot be constructed. If Frankfort Street is delayed,
Harney Avenue must also be delayed.
FISCAL IMPACT
The costs of burying the overhead utility lines will be borne by the property owners and the City of
Oshkosh. The costs for undergrounding the overhead wires vary widely depending on the type of main
line facility that exists and the status of the individual components within each home. WPS has provided
a cost range of $20 /ft to $30 /ft to bury the mainline /distribution lines on a simple street such as Frankfort
Street. This estimate does not include the services to the property. Additional costs will also be incurred
from other utilities. The following information is a summary of the estimated cost to bury the utility lines
on a Frankfort Street assuming a length of 1,150 feet and based on the involvement of 24 properties.
These costs are based on a typical street, not a detailed design for Frankfort Street, and are subject to
change.
1:\ Engineering \Correspondence \Steve Gohde \council memos \frankfort and harney delay.doc
Utility
Mainline/ Distribution
System
Service Connection to
Each Property
Total Estimated Cost
Range to Underground
WPS
$23,000 to $34,500
$1,400 to $4,800
$56,600 to $149,700
Time Warner
$30,000
Included with mainline
$30,000
AT &T
$40,000 to $56,000
$250 to $1,000
$46,000 to $80,000
TOTAL
$93,000 to $120,500
$1,650 to $5,800
$132,600 to $259,700
The above costs do not include any costs for acquisition of easements or the costs to install a City owned
street lighting system. The undergrounding costs represent near or more than a 50% increase in the cost
to pave the street. The 2010 Capital Improvement Program shows an estimated city paving share of
$205,200 and a total cost of $291,000, including costs that are special assessed. In the absence of a
policy on funding of underground utilities, staff is assuming the City will be paying the entire amount for
the mainline /distribution system ($93,000 - $120,500), with the service connections being the
responsibility of the property owner.
Please let me know if you have questions about this information.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved:
Steven M. Gohde
Asst. Director of Public Works
City Manager
1:1 Engineering\Correspondence\Steve Gohdelcouncil memosUrankfon and hamey delay.doc