Highway 61 reconstruction

Letter: Highway 61 project should take place over two seasons

Dec 4, 2019

To the editor: With only one contractor interested in bidding the Lake City Highway project in 2020, it should be obvious that something is wrong with the overall plan. This is an opportunity for city staff, council personnel, and our mayor to reconsider a project they are forcing on our community...

Letter: Time to rethink highway project

Dec 4, 2019

To the editor: I read in last week’s Graphic that the bid for Lake City’s new two-lane highway came in over $2.5 million over budget with Lake City contributing $3.5 million to the project. Isn’t it time to maybe rethink the whole project? If we keep the four-lanes the state will overlay it free....

Anxieties surface as highway project nears

Oct 9, 2019

Several Lake City business owners used a question-and-answer period during a presentation on the Highway 61 reconstruction to air concerns about the impact a season of construction and detours will have on their businesses. Bids from the project could be let on Nov. 22, with contracts awarded in...

Letter: Highway project should be done in two stages

Oct 9, 2019

To the editor: I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce and all involved in putting together the informal question and answer meeting related to the 2020 Highway 61 construction project. It was amazing to learn that the project has come this far without someone in the city doing an “economic...

Highway 61 Reconstruction Facebook Page online

Aug 29, 2019

Bids aren’t expected to be let until November, but a Facebook page intended to provide timely information about detours, progress, and other facets of the Highway 61 project already has several posts. On Aug. 12 the Lake City City Council approved a 16-month, $17,440 contract with Abby Breyfogle to...

Council OKs detour deal and hires social media rep for 2020 highway project

Aug 14, 2019

The Lake City City Council Monday made two decisions relating to the Highway 61 reconstrution project taking place next year. Councilmembers unanimously approved a detour agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) that will allow the city to be compensated for road wear...

Letter: Detours will be disastrous to Lake City small businesses

Aug 14, 2019

To the editor: I saw an article in the Graphic (“2020 detours detailed at manufacturers luncheon” on Aug. 1) that when they replace our Highway 61 from our four-lane road to a 1920s two-lane road that they are going to close the highway downtown during construction. That would be disastrous to...

2020 detours detailed

Jul 31, 2019

About 25 attendees at a luncheon for large manufacturers at City Hall Thursday heard an update on the 2020 Highway 61 reconstruction project, as well as timelines for detours that will be in effect during construction. “This is a complete reconstruction. It’s going to be a challenging time,” said...

City selling farmland

Jul 10, 2019

Lake City is selling 77 acres of farmland in Lake Township. On July 8 the City Council unanimously approved selling the land by sealed bid with a minumum bid amount of $450,000. The money will go into the city’s capital fund where it could be used to help pay for amenities and any cost overruns...

Festival used for outreach on high-profile projects

Jun 26, 2019

Organizations working on the Highway 61 reconstruction project and the marina beach and Ohuta Park planning effort are using Water Ski Days as a way to gather and share information about the efforts. WSB, the firm the City of Lake City contracted to help with planning of the beach and park area,...