05.02 Highway 371 Expansion Project Update

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c��y of Pequot Lakes� - 4638 Co�v�RoAD 11 e I'EQuoT LAxES,MN 56472• (218) 568-5222�Fr�: (218) 568-5860 o ww�vpequotlakes-mn.gov August 17,2017 Mr. Kelvin Howieson,Assistant District Engineer Minnesota Department ofTransportation 7694 Industrial Park Road Baxter, Minnesota 56425 Dear Mr. Howieson: Recently,you informed the City of Pequot Lakes that the official release date of all road turn backs relating to the Highway 371 Expansion Project may be November 1,2018 which could result in a monetary obligation release date of January 1, 2019. This new information is quite alarming to the City as we were given no prior indication that the anticipated release date of April 1,2018 was in jeopardy. For over a year,the City has been extremely busy planning and preparing for the following budgetary additions and improvement projects within our community,which are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2018,and are contingent on the April 1, 2018 release date and monetary obligation of$4,604,000. • Hiring of an additional public works employee • Purchase of an additional snowplow truck • Construction of a new Public Works Facility • Improvements to the Downtown Southeast Street Quadrant • Expansion and improvements to Trailside Park The Pequot Lakes City Council, at their meeting held on August 15,2017, requests that MnDOT release the road turn backs and monetary obligation relating to the Highway 371 Expansion Project by no later than May 1,2018,and furthermore if this timeline cannot be met,the City will be unable to accept the road turn backs until May 1,2019 due to preparatory and financial constraints. We are also requesting that a MnDOT representative attend the September 5,2017 City Council Meeting to address this issue with the City Council. This Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Council Chambers at Pequot Lakes City Hall. Please send me a confirmation as to who will be present. If you have any questions, please contact me directly at(218)568-2352. Sincerely, ��V 2��, `�� Nancy Malecha City Administrator/Clerk nmalecha @pequotlakes-mn.�ov "Thzs instztution zs an equal opportunity provider and employer."