Rochester Growing Street Maintenance Deficit

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Paying for the future maintenance of Rochester’s roads is on the agenda for Monday afternoon’s study session of the City Council.

The elected officials will be presented with a report that estimates the cost of maintaining Rochester’s streets and adjacent sidewalks at over a billion dollars over the next 50-years. That would keep the infrastructure at a rating of just under 80-percent, or in “good’ condition during that timespan. If the Council were to adopt the program, starting next year, it would cost $3 million in 2020 and increase by $800,000 annually.

Much of the discussion on Monday will focus on funding options, which include property taxes, increased assessments, a combination of the two, and other options.

The Council will also continue its discussions on a request from the Prairie Island Community for support of its application to acquire a portion of the Elk Run property on the south edge of Pine Island. The tribal community is seeking to put the property in trust and have in part of its Red Wing area reservation. Members of the Council previously requested more information about the impact on zoning and other issues before making a decision.

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