TRUMAN– On Tuesday Troy Nemmers, an engineer with Bolton & Menk, provided the Truman City Council with information on the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) grant application for Highway 15 sidewalk improvements.

“City staff met with some MnDOT staff last fall to talk about adding a sidewalk from South 1st Street all the way up to the Dollar General. MnDOT did get in touch with us and suggested that this Local Partnership Program (LPP) is an option for the city,” Nemmers said.

He said that Bolton & Menk did go ahead and submit a notice of intent to the state, along with a map, looking to get feedback to see if the project would be a consideration.

“They did respond and last week we submitted the final application which had some more information about the project,” Nemmers said.

He said MnDOT suggested they install additional crossing on the north end, from Dollar General to Truman Senior Living, which was added in the application.

“The updated cost estimate that was submitted was a little over $500,000 with that additional crosswalk,” Nemmers said.

Now a review committee is going through the applications and Nemmers said he expects to hear back in March. If granted, design could start this summer but construction likely not until 2025.

“The majority of the funding will be theirs (MnDOT), so they’ll set that schedule and depending on the local share, if the numbers work out and the city has funds available,” Nemmers said about the timeline.

“It looks good. I know it’s expensive, but what isn’t,” Council Member Brian Nickerson said.

It was previously said at a council meeting in January that if the grant is received, the local share to the city could be as low as $50,000 to $75,000.

“MnDOT is feeling good about the project. They only have $700,000 available and if they got more than two or three applications they’ll have to split it up but they don’t usually get a ton of applications for it,” Nemmers said.

Next, Nemmers touched on what’s being referred to as the Bau residential development project. Nemmers said that Bolton & Menk is working through the plans and is nearly complete.

As it stand there will be five lots in the cul-de-sac, a sixth lot to the south and an existing lot, a corner lot off of Seventh Avenue.

“We’re looking at having a utilities design meeting next week to talk to the private utility owners in the area and let them know what’s coming,” Nemmers said.

He gave the council members a map to reference and brought up an area of concern which is where to place a required storm water pond.

“We’re looking to bid it in April so we could have a contractor in here in May,” Nemmers said.

Before ending his update, Nemmers told the council to start thinking about a subdivision name.