By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The project is still five years on the horizon, but officials are in the early stages of planning the logistics surrounding the planned reconstruction of state Highway 59 through portions of Whitewater.
The impacted area along the major thoroughfare runs between Newcomb Street and Sunrise Lane. Twenty-five properties fall within the targeted area, and work is expected to occur in 2020.
As a state highway, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is funding all of the Highway 59 work. But there are some aspects of the project that have fallen on the city’s shoulders, including legal issues concerning right-of-way easements for the impacted property owners.
In August, the city entered into a contract with Madison-based MSA Professional Services to undertake the task of valuing the impacted property. MSA was the lowest of five bidders for the appraisal work and submitted a quote of $30,525.
The work has since been completed, and MSA’s findings were presented to the Common Council at a meeting Dec. 15.
A document known as a nominal payment parcel report was submitted to the city with details of each acquisition’s projected cost. The valuations for the easements range from $250 to $2,800, depending upon lot sizes.
Although the city is fronting the cost for MSA’s work, Assistant City Manager Chris McDonell said the state will pay the city back.
“Wisconsin DOT will reimburse the city for all costs associated with the valuation and property acquisition services related to this project, including the cost of MSA Professional Services’ coordination of the project,” said McDonell, who is overseeing the city’s end of the agreement.
