How accessible are Alexandria's sidewalks?

At its meeting Monday night, the council approved a transition plan to make the improvements.

The plan is required for all public entities with more than 50 employees who are slated to receive federal funding through the Transportation Improvement Plan.

The city studied 41.3 miles of sidewalks and trails, 840 curb ramps and 69 traffic control signals as part of the transition plan. It found that just 15 percent of the sidewalks and trails met accessibility criteria and 21 percent of the curb ramps locations were accessible. Also, only 29 percent of the traffic control signals were compliant.

Two priority areas were identified that need accessibility improvements:

• Between Seventh and Ninth Avenue, from Lake to Maple Street.

• Between Third and Sixth Avenue, from Lake to Nokomis Street.

In the priority areas, it will cost about $184,000 to reconstruct 46 pedestrian ramps and another $234,500 to retrofit the sidewalks with the ADA improvements.

The city's goal is that within 10 years, at least 90 percent of the accessibility features within the priority areas will be in compliance.

Within 20 years, the city's goal is to have at least 90 percent of all of the sidewalks, streets, ramps and signals within the city's jurisdiction in compliance. That's estimated to cost $6.8 million, which would be shared by several different entities, not just the city.

The ADA requirements are not new, noted City Engineer Tim Schoonhoven. The law was enacted in 1990, but the timelines and certain requirements have fluctuated over the years, he said.

New airport manager

Kreg Anderson was appointed as airport manager, replacing long-time manager Todd Roth who resigned on Jan. 21 to accept a position with the Federal Aviation Administration as a safety inspector.

In a memo to the council, City Administrator Marty Schultz noted that Roth, who has served as manager since October 2007, was a tireless advocate of the airport who worked to ensure that Alexandria's airport is modern and serves the needs of the community.

Anderson, a 2013 Alexandria graduate, has been working for Alexandria Aviation in a variety of capacities since October 2010. He served as a chief flight instructor for two and a half years. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and majored in aviation management.

Training tower

The council agreed to allow the Alexandria Fire Department to submit a $500,000 grant application to build a training tower. If approved, the city would have to provide a 10 percent match, which would come out of the fire equipment fund.

The structure would include burn rooms, a maze, interior and exterior stairs, guardrails, a rappelling tower, several props for training purposes and other features.

The training tower has been a part of the city's capital improvement plan for five years.

If the grant is awarded, the tower could be installed in 2019. The proposed location is northwest of the fire station, which is currently being used by the National Guard for storage.

Alexandria Fire Chief Jeff Karrow said other fire departments in the county, region and state could pay a reimbursable fee to train at the tower. There are three other training facilities in the state, he said, but not one that has two separate areas for practice burns.

There is no cost to submit the grant.

Highway 29 sidewalk

All systems are go for a project that will install a new sidewalk and pedestrian ramps on Highway 29 South.

The city was notified on Jan. 12 that the project was selected to receive state funding of $96,000.

The sidewalk will close a critical gap between sidewalks on the east and west frontage roads and will provide a continuous pedestrian route along the frontage roads and across the freeway to the Holiday Inn, according to City Engineer Tim Schoonhoven.

The project will also make the crossing compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The project is on a "fast track," Schoonhoven said. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is requesting to review 90 percent of the plans by April 1.

The state is funding 100 percent of the construction costs, plus construction engineering. The only cost not funded, $8,862 in design engineering, is eligible for state aid construction funds.

Paving at fairgrounds

The council approved an engineering agreement for a paving project at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Widseth Smith and Nolting will receive $42,778 for the work.

The city has been working with the Douglas County Agricultural Association on the project for months. It would includes reclaim and repaving of driving lanes, including access drives to the existing buildings, creating a green space with grading and drainage improvements, and reclaim and repaving the existing parking area.

The council tabled taking action on a memorandum of understanding with the association. It would have allowed the association to reimburse the city $15,000 a year for the project, which is estimated to cost $280,431, until it was paid off. The payment would essentially amount to a zero-percent loan, Schoonhoven said.

Some council members and City Attorney Tom Jacobson were concerned about how the city would be assured of getting the money from the association. Jacobson said it would amount to an unsecured loan.

Council member Bobbie Osterberg, a member of the budget committee, said she was uncomfortable with the possibility of having to use reserves to pay for the project if the association is unable to provide payments.

Council member Todd Jensen said the city and association need to move forward with the project in order to complete it before the Douglas County Fair begins in August.

Council member Virgil Batesole said he had no qualms about the project itself but said the city should make sure the financial details are worked out first.

The council tabled the issue and directed Jacobson to take a closer look at the memorandum before the council's next meeting.