It was a banner building year in Winthrop, according to 2018 figures provided by the town’s building inspector.
In a report to the Town Council last week, Mark Straub said “2018 was a robust year for private, residential construction inside Winthrop: 15 single-family residences, a four-detached-studio complex, and one duplex currently are under construction or have been issued a certification of occupancy.”
Straub said other projects included a thrift shop remodeled into a four-office complex with a studio apartment in the lower level; a residential addition; a residential remodel; plus various garages, carports and decks.
The total combined valuation of the 2018 projects is $3,644,703, compared to last year’s total of $2,809,664. Total permitting fees generated in 2018 were $47,445, compared to $35,135 in 2017, Straub reported. The 2018 breakdown:
• Single-family projects, total valuation of $2,863,600; fees generated, $35,878.
• Residential-related projects, total valuation $685,363; fees generated, $8,766.
• Commercial-related projects, total valuation $95,740; fees generated, $2,799.
In other business at last week’s meeting, Mayor Sally Ranzau reported that she and Town Planner Rocklynn Culp are “sorting out previous transactions” related to the property on White Avenue that the town intends to purchase as the site of a new public library, to ensure that there will be no unforeseen issues with the transaction.
“We’re getting close, and there’s nothing that’s insurmountable,” Ranzau said, but added that closing on the purchase may not occur this year as hoped.
The council approved a 2018 budget amendment to include the purchase of the library site. Money is also included in the 2019 budget in case the transaction does not close this year, Ranzau said.
In other business:
• The council approved a code amendment related to business licensing to bring the town into compliance with revisions in state statutes adopted by the Legislature in 2017.
• Extended a previous agreement with consulting firm SCJ Alliance to assist in development of a pedestrian underpass at the Chewuch River Bridge. The project has been under consideration for several years and the original agreement with SCJ dates to 2015.
• Renewed its contract with SCJ Alliance for general engineering services. The current contract, agreed to in 2016, is expiring. Culp advised the council in a memo that the town was required to ask for bids to provide the engineering services. The town received six applications for the contract.
Culp said that a committee including herself, Ranzau and Public Works Director Jeff Sarvis reviewed applications and, using a scoring matrix, “agreed on SCJ Alliance as the top firm due to their strong performance and familiarity with our projects … Over the term of a new contract, the town would likely use SCJ for review of developer submittals, street improvement design, trail project design, and other miscellaneous tasks.” Sarvis told the council that SCJ has the advantage of institutional knowledge with the town and charges reasonable rates for its services.
• The council approved a 3.1 percent increase in monthly water and sewer service rates for 2019, to $40.16 for water and $23.56 for sewer. State law requires that the town adjust rates to reflect actual operating costs of the services.
