Work scheduled to begin in mid-July
The Aurora City Council approved final plans last week as well as oversight agreements with JEO Consulting regarding a major 1st Street construction project expected to begin next month.
Steve Parr, a senior engineer with JEO, addressed a number of items on the council’s May 28 agenda, noting that several aspects of the project are tied together in terms of planning and construction phasing.
“There will be a lot of stuff going on,” Parr told the council while explaining JEO’s oversight role. Work is scheduled to begin on the project in mid-July, continuing into the early fall of 2025, during which time Parr said JEO has proposed more than 1,100 hours of part-time, on-site construction observation.
“We will have bi-weekly progress meetings on the project,” Parr said of certain phases of construction which will most directly impact street access for neighboring property owners. “They will be at the same time and date so anybody impacted by the project would be able to attend that meeting. We will keep the public informed and address any concerns. I think that’s a good thing on this project because the impact on 1st Street and the surrounding area is pretty big, with lots of people involved.”
Parr reported that the plan is to begin work on Grant Street, Bates Street and Highlander Lane, in order to create connections allowing residents to get in and out during heavy construction phases on 1st Street.
During the May 28 meeting, the council approved an amendment authorizing JEO to perform design and construction services related to the Streeter 6th Addition, as well as the agreement allowing JEO to perform construction services related to the overall 1st Street project. Bids were awarded for that project at the May 14 meeting to Mid-Nebraska Land Developers of Aurora for $3,013,028.
On a related note, the council also approved a change order, based on a recommendation to expand the depth of concrete at the Grant Street intersection from seven inches of pavement to eight inches. The cost of that change was listed at $23,418.
1- and 6-year street plan
The council also heard a preliminary report on the city’s proposed one- and six-year street plan, which Parr said is required in order to receive state road funding. The council will not be asked to approve the final plan until September, though Parr said JEO is working to update the plan as needed.
Projects shown on a map in orange are tentatively listed on the one-year plan, which Parr said designates them as a higher priority, though that does not commit the city to complete those projects in the next fiscal year. Projects shown in orange include the 1st Street project from Highway 34 to the railroad tracks; the far north section of Grant Street rounding into the Lincoln Creek housing subdivision; several streets in the Streeter subdivision, including Grant Street, Bates Street, Stone Street and a portion of Highlander Lane; an extension of Pheasant Drive for a potential subdivision there; and east/west and a north/south portion of Mission Avenue in the new Mission Critical Subdivision on Highway 14; and a one-half mile portion of County Road 11 extending east from Highway 14.
Projects shown in blue tentatively listed on the city’s six-year plan include several connected streets north of Highway 34 including Jennifer Road, Terrie Road, Craig Street and a portion of 9th Street; portions of E, C and 8th streets just north of A Street; and a portion of Lincoln Avenue extending south of Highway 34 near the ethanol plant.
In other business, the council:
* approved the second reading of Ordinance 1192, which would allow the Streeter Fifth Addition to be annexed into the city limits;
* authorized the mayor to enter into a subdivision agreement with Streeter LLC for Streeter’s Sixth Addition;
* approved a payment of $137,058 to Mid-Nebraska Land Developers for work on the Highway 34/Grant Street approach;
* approved a request from Deb Kalkwarf of Grandview Cafe for a special designated liquor license and permission to fence off the street east of the alley between 11th and 12 streets on L Street to hold an outdoor beer garden and street dance during A’ROR’N Days on June 21 and June 22 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.;
* approved a noise control variance application from Deb Kalkwarf for the Grandview street dance June 21-22 during A’ROR’N Days.