Deteriorating streets are a common problem in any city. The high cost of major road projects often prevents small towns from aggressively attacking the issue, choosing instead for a Band-Aid approach.
But kicking the can down the road too far is not a good solution to aging infrastructure, to which Tracy residents and officials can attest.
At last week’s Balaton City Council meeting, Balaton residents Mary Timmerman and Cookie Cooreman spoke to the council about two major problem areas in town — Grandview Dr. and Sunrise Ave. — 18-year-old streets they say need some major TLC..
The pair sent a letter to each council member in late September 29 to bring the matter to the City’s attention, expressing their concern, the need for street repairs and asking who is responsible for taking care of it. Timmerman also said last week that she had a phone conversation with Mayor Lonnie Lambertus prior to the Oct. 13 council meeting. It was then that Lambertus told her that the best thing to do at that point was to attend and speak at a meeting. Timmerman wrote in the letter that Lambertus was unaware of any future road improvement plans.
Lambertus said at last week’s meeting that he believed $90,000 was budgeted for street repairs next year. He added that Public Works Supt. Josh Torgeson makes recommendations to the council on what streets need the most attention.
“He brings us a list of streets that need to be done,” Lambertus said. “After that, we talk to him about it.”
Council member Greg Erickson, who works with Torgeson on tree issues, said while it may appear $90,0000 is a lot of money, when it comes to fixing streets, it really isn’t in reality.
“Right now, Josh was talking about trying to get a tile issue fixed at an intersection by East Bay and the golf course,” Erickson said. “That’s one of the things on the agenda for next year.”
Timmerman asked if there was a plan for Grandview and spoke about $352,400 in unassigned monies that are sitting in the City’s General Fund.
“My question is, why is some of our street work not getting done with that money; as taxpayers, we have paid for that,” Timmerman said. “Why is it sitting in our General Fund when our streets aren’t getting fixed?”
Erickson said the City might use some of that money for street repairs.
“Only once have they done a sealcoat on it, otherwise that road has not been touched,” Timmerman said. “When we turned it over to the City, there was an agreement that they maintain that road, and as of today it has not been done.”
Timmerman asked for some reassurance that the two roads are going to get some attention soon.
Council member Dylan Fricke told Timmeran and Cooreman that he cannot make any guarantee concerning those two roads, and that there are many other areas in town that need work, such as seal coating, as well.
“When it comes time to do repairs, it’s going to be costly,” Fricke said. “We were working on grant funds to do infrastructure stuff; I don’t remember where that went. I think the best chance to get this street work done is through grant money.”
Cooreman said she was led to understand that the City could get $5,000 from the League of Minnesota Cities to hire a grant writer. She said she is well aware that there is a lot of money in federal grants that could be made available.
“If you put into your budget the resources to hire a federal grant writer — somebody who knows the ins and outs — do your due diligence,” Cooreman said. “Find someone who has written these grants for these other small communities. Currie has just finished a large development with the aid of many grants, and it was very beneficial to the community. I don’t care if you have to spend $10,000, find a way to find that $10,000 to get that person on board with you.”
Cooreman said the City needs to show potential grant sources its pressing street needs by taking pictures of roads and sewer lines “that are falling apart underneath your streets,” she said. Get that grant writer going. If you don’t have the time, find someone who does.”
Timmerman questioned the council if the General Fund has money in it, why not put it toward grants that would help take care of infrastructure issues.
The problem, Cooreman said, is not just an East Bay problem, it’s a Balaton problem, and doesn’t appreciate when people separate the two.
“I do not like it when people say ‘East Bay is not part of Balaton’ — give me a break!” she said. “This is our community. I want to see (the council) become proactive instead of reactive. We keep kicking the can down the road. You need plans. What’s the plan for 2026, what’s the plan for five years beyond?”
