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Harrison trustees mull options for Hoelzel Haven urbanization

By: 
Judy Dixon Hebbe
“It is hard to answer (the question of which option to take in the Hoelzel Haven subdivision urbanization project), because of the vagueness to your answers to our questions,” a subdivision resident told Harrison officials at last week’s informational meeting on the Hoelzel Haven urbanization plan.
“Why are you there and not the (village) board,” he asked Lee Reibold, village engineer from McMahon Associates, who with Assistant Village Manager Mark Mommearts gave the presentation on the project.
The presentation included the original two options reviewed by the village board at a previous meeting, plus a two-part second option requested by Trustee Scott Handschke, all of which at the previous meeting were referred back to staff to obtain the engineer’s explanation and costs for all options. 
Two options, earlier reviewed by the village board, included option No. 1 street urbanization with curb and gutter, storm sewer and sidewalks throughout the entire subdivision, which will connect to existing sidewalks in the Parker Farms subdivision via the proposed sidewalk along Highway N.  The third option provides street urbanization with curb and gutter and storm sewer throughout the entire subdivision with sidewalks along both sides of Hoelzel Way from Highway N to Exploration Avenue and along the west side of Exploration to Sunrise School. Storm sewer pump laterals will be provided to all properties.
The second option had two sections. Option 2a called for rural street resurfacing with a trail alongside Midway Road from Highway N to Krissy Street then to the Sunrise School. Option 2b called for rural street resurfacing along Midway Road from Highway N to the existing trail in Darboy Community Park and connection to the school. A trail and a ditch cannot be accommodated in the Midway right-of-way. To construct the proposed trail, curb and gutter and storm sewer would be installed to make room for the trail. Krissy Drive would also be urbanized with curb and gutter and storm sewer.
Since the Kimberly Area School District meets the Wisconsin state requirement that districts provide a safe route to schools, Superintendent Bob Mayfield, a Harrison resident, reported that the district is busing children to and from Sunrise School to assure their safety. It costs the district approximately $60,000 per bus route and the district spends $1 million on busing. Because there are no sidewalks in Hoelzel Haven, children living on Hoelzel Way, Cheyenne Drive, Skippers Lane and Krissy Drive must be bused to and from school. Although the new subdivisions east of Highway N have sidewalks, those children must be bused because there is no safe route from Highway N to Sunrise School.
This summer, Calumet County will reconstruct Highway N, installing roundabouts at Hoelzel and Midway Road intersections. The roundabouts will include blinking lights which may be activated by pedestrians. A sidewalk will be constructed along the west side of the highway.
Project cost estimates are $2.5 million for option 1, $800,000 for option 2a, $900,000 for option 2b and $2.2 million for option 3. Assessed project costs include concrete curb and gutter, driveway aprons and storm sewer sump pump laterals.  The village requires new subdivisions to install sidewalks. To date there is no policy on payment for sidewalk installations in existing subdivisions.
The village policy on payment of total assessments includes a lump sum payment at the due date or one installment if the assessment is $500 or less, three equal installments if the total assessment is greater than $500 but less than $999, five equal installments if the total assessment is at least $1,000 but less than $4,999, or ten equal installments if the total assessment is at least $5,000 or greater. At its discretion, the village board may extend the timeline for payment, but not greater than 20 years.
The rate of interest on any outstanding special assessment shall be 2 percent above the current interest rate as found on the State Trust Fund Loan program website.
The village board will receive participant’s responses before the next meeting on March 8 and will have the issue on the agenda for that meeting.