Sauk Rapids Council Approves 2025 Mill and Overlay Schedule; Makes Last Minute Addition

(KNSI) – The Sauk Rapids City Council made a last-minute addition to its 2025 mill and overlay projects at Monday’s hearing.

A water main broke during the holiday season near Benton Drive North and 10th Street. Crews had to make emergency repairs, which left the frontage road crumbling. City Engineer Scott Hedlund explains why the council wanted to do the project over the objection of one of the homeowners in the area.

“It’s a low-volume road, so it was flying a little under the radar with other, maybe higher volume, more visible roads. But rather than spend the money on patching it, the thought was, let’s add it to the overlay and get it taken care of now, as an economy of scale type improvement.”

Sealcoating would just put off the inevitable, as a 20×40-foot section won’t be salvageable for much longer. Hedlund points out that pushing the project down the road won’t save on costs. By adding it to an existing job, he hopes to get it taken care of in the most fiscally responsible way.

The change brings the mill and overlay bill to around $2.5 million. Property owners in five different neighborhoods throughout the city will be assessed an additional tax for around 25% of the total cost in November.

Most of the projects are standard resurfacing, but not all. The city will use geogrid technology, a screen with roughly one-inch holes that gets locked into place when you fill it in. Hedlund explains why it is necessary.

“You roll it out and put gravel material over the top of it, and it creates a really strong structure. What we’re hoping to use it for on this project is to resist the movement of the pipe that’s been heaving and causing a speed bump.”

Geogrid will be laid down in the Churchill Heights neighborhood.

Crews will also replace curbs in a targeted manner for sections in the worst condition. The projects will go out to bid in April and a contract should be awarded by May.

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