Comment Print Email

February 09. 2012 6:00AM

Residents who live along Spearfish Drive and Crystal Place will gain new water and sewer lines this summer, but the improvements may come with a bit of inconvenience.
Dale and Carolyn Carstens are two of those residents who will be inconvenienced.

“We watched what they did on Needles … and they did have some inconveniences,” Dale Carstens said. “But I guess there’s nothing we can do about it. We’ll be trucking groceries a block, block and a half.”

The Carstens have been fortunate so far, saying they have not had any problems with their water and sewer lines.

They, and approximately a dozen other homeowners, attended an open house at City Hall last week to learn about the upcoming project, voice their opinion and ask questions.

City Administrator Bryan Read said the improvements are warranted.

“Most (of these residents) have been dealing with sewer issues and I don’t know how many waterlines we’ve replaced out there,” said Read.

Although Brandon City Council hasn’t formally put the project up for bid, city engineer Jon Brown said it is on the “to do” list.

This second phase is an extension of the 2010 project, which involved a complete reconstruction of the 1,500 feet of water main and 1,400 feet of sewer lines that was replaced in the Sylvan Circle area. Also included in this year’s reconstruction project is the replacement of 3,000 feet of curb and gutter, all driveway approaches, asphalt surfacing and replacement of all sewer and water services up to the property.

“It should be a significant impact to the residents there,” Brown said.

Sidewalks will not be added. “The council is not going to force sidewalks in an area that didn’t have them before,” he said.

City engineers are also working with Brandon Post Office officials to erect a “gang” mailbox for the affected residents. Brown said homeowners will be responsible for removing their mailboxes, however, the contractor will replace the mailbox posts at the project’s conclusion.

“We’re trying to avoid blame circumstances,” he said.

He also encouraged homeowners that have landscaping and/or irrigation systems in the boulevard, to inform the city prior to the project’s start. The city, he said, will reimburse homeowners for the reinstallation costs for irrigation systems.

Brown said the final design of the project is 95 percent complete. Public input heard at last week’s open house is being taken into consideration and will then be presented to the council for approval.

Brown said that both Spearfish Drive and Crystal Place will be closed down through most of the project, but did say limited access will be made available to the homeowners.

During the 2010 project, Brown said some residents were inconvenienced more than others.

“We had a lot of inconvenience complaints, because if I remember, it was a wet season and there were no sidewalks so people were walking on yards,” he said.
“Basically, we’ll have the same situation this year.”

The project, which will be bid out in March, is expected to start in early May and wrap up by the end of July, weather permitting.

Estimated at $350,000, Brown said the project will be paid for from the city’s water and sewer funds. “Part of the increase rates recently imposed will go to help pay for this,” he said.
This won’t be the last of water and sewer lines to be reconstructed, Brown said, noting there are at least three more phases in the Sylvan Circle area with upgrade needs.
“The city’s intention is to keep going forward with this,” he said.

Homeowners will be kept abreast of the project’s progress through bi-weekly email updates, Brown said, and a construction bulletin will be posted on the city’s website.