U.S. 51 utility project progressing in Hurley

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Hurley — The U.S. 51 utility reconstruction project, which began on April 29, is entering its second phase, and construction officials are reporting positive results so far.

“Things are going well,” said Jeff Seamandel, project manager, at a Tuesday evening meeting of the Hurley City Council.

Seamandel, who is employed by MSA Professional Services in Rhinelander, said that sanitary sewer and water utilities have been replaced on the highway stretch from Silver to Copper streets.

The next phase getting underway is from Copper to Iron streets.

Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping of Ironwood is the main contractor of the project, for which completion is still projected by October.

In related news, council members approved interim financing of $2,925,000 at a rate of 4.75% with Chippewa Valley Bank in Hurley.

The funds will be used to cover expenses on the utility project until Hurley is able to apply for, and receive, related grant funding. The city expects to apply to the state’s Department of Natural Resources’ loan programs for safe drinking water and clean water.

In other news, the council also approved a resolution relating to a 10-year adjustment in the Hurley urban area boundary, as required by the U.S. Census.

Scott Santini, who leads Hurley’s Department of Public Works, said that the DPW worked with the state Department of Transportation to complete the update.

Santini said that some situations were overlooked during the last check a decade ago.

According to him, adjustments now were made on land off Wisconsin 77 and U.S. 51.

“There were some houses there that technically weren’t in the boundaries of Hurley, so we added those,” he said.

He said the resolution is needed to file with the state.

Council members also:

—Approved a resolution on capital outlay financing for a lift for use by the city police department and the DPW. “This is just a formality,” said city clerk/treasurer Stacey Wiercinski, who added that the council already approved the purchase as a budgeted item last year.

—Approved summer hours for the clerk/treasurer, starting on May 28. Those hours will be Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. The council will revisit the issue again in August to determine an end date to the summer adjustment.

—Learned from Seamandel that Van Ert Electric Company of Wausau expects to order equipment soon in relation to the pending update of the Range View Lift Station. Seamandel added that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to amend its related grant due to an increase in the contractor bid amount. Construction is not expected until later this year due to a 40-week lead time on the generator order and a 12-week lead time on the transfer switch order. Project completion is expected by next summer.

—Tabled the approval of a bridge agreement between Hurley and Ironwood.

All votes were unanimous with Robert Lanctoe and Stephanie Innis absent.

The council’s next regular meeting will be on June 11 at 5 p.m. in the meeting room of the Hurley City Hall.