Forget the economic downturn. Perham, a short drive north-east of Fergus Falls, is currently reviewing a 5-year-plan, which includes a dozen capital improvement projects, that totals $13.7 million.
The capital improvement plan was reviewed by the Perham City Council on January 11th, along with one of the city engineers, Jade Berube.
The largest project on the list is a two-phase expansion of the City’s waste-water treatment facility, which will cost roughly $5.6 million. The first phase of that expansion will include upgrades of the current facility, as well as equipment, sometime in 2011, which will cost just over $2.1 million. In 2012, a new aeration pond is set to be put in with an estimated cost of nearly $3.5 million.
Replacement of Fifth Avenue is another one of the big projects in Perham’s 5-year-plan. That will include total replacement of Fifth Avenue, as well as curb and gutters, sidewalks, a water main, and a storm sewer. That project has a price tag of $731,000.
With downtown areas being the heart of many smaller community’s retail scene, it’s no surprise that the City of Perham also has plans for improvement in their downtown area. Concrete gutters will be installed and improved parking lots, which are used for parking and delivery of goods, are included in Perham’s downtown improvement plans, which will cost the City roughly $215,000. The City would pay just over half of that, with $105,000 being assessed to property owners.
In addition, Perham’s airport is set to benefit from $350,000 in state funding. The City is planning on reconstructing the runway, which will be a complete upgrade of the 16-year-old runway. That is scheduled for 2011. Total costs for the airport upgrades are $550,000, with the City covering the remaining $200,000.
In addition to the projects listed above, Perham is also planning on the following:
- Improvement of Second Avenue Southwest
- Utility upgrades on Third Avenue Southwest
- Various improvements to Third Street Southwest (Hospital) Street
- Northeast Industrial Park Utility and Street Improvements
- City sewer upgrades on Fifth Street Northwest
- Reconstruction of Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue Northwest
Perham is also looking past its 5-year-plan, and into 2015 to 2019. In those upcoming years, industrial park additions, street and utility improvements, as well as airport enhancements are all in the horizon for the growing community, of just under 3,000.
