DEPARTMENT: Parks, Facilities, and Fleet Management
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Agreement With Great River Energy On Veterans Memorial Greenway Bridge Over Highway 3 In Eagan, County Project P00147
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a relocation agreement with Great River Energy (GRE) for removing and replacing existing electric transmission poles associated with bridge construction for the Veterans Memorial Greenway Project.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient greenway system, Dakota County is proceeding with the Veterans Memorial Greenway (VMG) Phase II segment, which includes the construction of about two miles of shared-use trail. The final design includes a 10’ shared-use trail, bridge over State Trunk Highway 3, earthwork and elements of the basic and enhanced memorial nodes, greenway wayfinding, and a new trailhead parking lot off Dodd Road. The VMG Phase II project is scheduled to start construction in 2025. (Attachment: Location Map).
GRE operates a transmission line within the Northern States Power easement and along a portion of State Highway 3 and CP Railroad right of way. With Xcel Energy transmission lines overhead, the bridge location must utilize the space that currently has GRE utility pole infrastructure for bridge piers and abutments. Since GRE has an easement with Northern States Power, the County is partially responsible for the costs to relocate the transmission line poles and any necessary pole relocation work, as it is a project-related impact.
In spring 2023, the County and GRE entered into an engineering review agreement to review the project’s impacts on GRE’s facilities. GRE has reviewed the project impacts and requires the relocation of one pole and the construction of a new 65’ wood pole with guy wires 45’ from railroad tracks. Based on this review, GRE has provided an estimate on the relocation costs of $437,958.08, and 50 percent of the associated costs are to be paid for by the County as identified in the modification/relocation agreement. Staff has reviewed the engineering determination agreement and proposed costs (Attachment: Draft Relocation Agreement).
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the execution of the modification/relocation agreement with GRE for the necessary pole relocation work required based on the P00147 bridge work on their facilities to proceed in an amount not to exceed $218,979.04.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The adopted 2024 Parks Capital Improvement Program Budget includes a budget of for design and construction of $27,825,491 including state and federal funds in the amount of $14,995,000 and County funds of $12,830,491. Relocation costs are not to exceed $218,979.04. Sufficient funds are available for the modification/relocation agreement.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, to provide a safe and efficient greenway system, Dakota County is proceeding with the Veterans Memorial Greenway County Project (P00147); and-
WHEREAS, County Project P00147 will entail the construction of about two miles of shared use trail, including a bridge over State Trunk Highway 3, in Eagan and Inver Grove Heights; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for the Project; and
WHEREAS, Great River Energy (GRE) operates a transmission line within Northern States Power easement; and
WHEREAS, County Project P00147 alignment was selected to minimize impacts on GRE’s transmission line and parallel Xcel Energy transmission lines; and
WHEREAS, despite the alignment, the project is encroaching on GRE’s facilities, including the transmission poles where the bridge crossing of Trunk Highway 3 needs to occur because of the parallel Xcel Energy transmission lines that have height restrictions for a bridge crossing; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County and GRE entered into an engineering review agreement for the review of the County Project’s impact on GRE’s facilities; and
WHEREAS, GRE has completed their review and requires the replacement of three poles along the project corridor and a realignment of infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, GRE estimates that the cost to complete the new poles and relocation work is $437,958.08, with the County to pay 50 percent of the costs; and
WHEREAS, to proceed with County Project P00147, Dakota County must enter into a relocation agreement with GRE to complete the necessary work on GRE’s facilities for the project; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 Parks Capital Improvement Program Budget has sufficient funding for the necessary GRE work within the Veterans Memorial Greenway project; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends execution of a relocation agreement with GRE for the estimated County cost amount of $218,979.04.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a relocation agreement with Great River Energy for the necessary work on Great River Energy’s facilities for County Project P00147 in the amount of the actual costs currently estimated at $218,979.04, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-430; 9/1/20
22-201; 5/24/22
22-376; 9/6/22
22-567; 12/13/22
23-076; 2/28/23
23-320; 7/18/23
23-575; 12/19/23
24-188; 4/9/2024
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location Map
Attachment: Draft Relocation Agreement
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Taud Hoopingarner
Author: Tony Wotzka