Proctor Journal

An informational meeting scheduled for next week to update area residents on the Ugstad Road project has been postponed.

The meeting was delayed after officials from Midway Township, Proctor Public Utilities, Proctor city council and St. Louis County learned that there may be a possibility of receiving some Federal Stimulus money.

The three groups, along with a St. Louis County engineer meet last week to confer on the project.

After four years on the drawing boards, the Ugstad Rd. water and sewer line project, which will be between 3rd Street and Stark Rd., could begin construction in August.

The Midway Town Board met with the Proctor Public Utilities Commission and City council in September to discuss details of the project.

Work was scheduled to be completed in 2005 and was estimated to cost $2.1 million. Costs have risen to nearly $2.7 million.

Proctor’s cost to replace the 48-year-old cast iron water main is estimated to be $205,000. Forty-one services are hooked into the line.

There was legislation that would have provided $600,000 from the state for the project. However, it was deleted as part of a compromise after landing on the Governor’s desk. Because of that, the project was delayed and construction costs increased about $240,000.

Other funding sources are being applied for. St. Louis County will pay for about $860,000 of the project and will pay for the replacement of the sewer lines along Ugstad Road. Residents are looking at about $16,000 in assessments.

Ninety homes will be affected by the reconstruction.

St. Louis County is planning to rebuild the sewer and turn it over to Midway upon completion. The Midway Town Board has already signed a letter of intent to own the sewer main.

The sewer is unique in Minnesota, as the only one owned by a County Government. It is officially know as "St. Louis County Sanitary Sewer District Number One."