Sticker Shock for Homeowners as St. Cloud Approves $10.4 Million Reconstruction Project on University Drive

(KNSI) – Homeowners along University Drive are uneasy about the cost they will face for a major reconstruction project.

St. Cloud approved an estimated $10.4 million project to reconstruct University Drive from County Highway 75 to 15th Avenue Southeast. The design includes improvements for people riding bikes and utility replacements.

The city received $8.5 million from the 2023 State Transportation Policy and Finance Bill. That leaves $1.9 million as the city’s portion.

Bonnie Asfeld lives on the road and had sticker shock after getting her estimated $15,800 bill. “I do not have the funds. My son’s in a wheelchair. And I checked with his income. It threw me over what I can [afford]. I can’t get help.”

She told KNSI News she has no idea how she is going to pay. Asfeld lives along the stretch that includes several nontax paying properties such as Rotary Park, Talahi Community School, Fire Station Three, and Selk Field. She doesn’t dispute the work needs to be done but questions if people like her are getting billed fairly. “The road needs to be done. Yes. The sewer needs to be done. Yes. But the whole other side of the road is the city’s, it’s field, it’s the school. Who’s paying for it? Are they [the city] actually paying for it? Or did they divide it by us?”

Asfeld asked the city to double-check to make sure she isn’t getting double-billed for the land across the street.

Final assessments will be sent to the nearly 100 affected property owners in February or March of 2025. The bill will be based on actual construction costs and the recently approved special benefits methodology report. The first payments are due in May of 2026. Residents have about ten years to pay the city back, but that can be extended upon request.

The work was approved by a unanimous vote on Monday night.

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