The Chaska City Council voted unanimously to order the North Meadows street reconstruction project scheduled for to begin this summer.

The $1.5 million project will include the reconstruction of several streets in the North Meadows neighborhood as well as upgrades to the sanitary sewer and water systems.

City Engineer Bill Monk told the council that the street work should last “a good 50-60 years.”

Monk noted that as part of the project up to six trees may have to be removed and the road may be slightly narrowed.

“Nothing that will be noticed,” he said of the street width.

All but $150,000 of the project will be assessed. Affected residents will be responsible for 25 percent of the project’s cost with the city picking up the remaining 75 percent.

Monk said 71 single family homes are involved and should be assessed no more than $4,885. The economy is helping drive the construction costs down. Monk noted that a few years ago, the Autumn Woods street reconstruction project, which was similar to the North Meadows project, cost residents there $6,900.

The North Meadows project represents a re-start to the city’s $30 million street reconstruction plan. Next year, the city will begin work on downtown streets.

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer