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7-19-24 Project Update
Project cleanup has been the theme over the course of the week after sliding the barricades late last week.
Over the course of the week, Ottertail Aggregate has been working on boulevard grading and topsoil
placement in Phases 2 and 3, as well as filling in additional aggregate material behind the concrete
driveways that were poured last Friday. The last of the barricades and ribbons at driveways and other
streets have been slid aside, allowing for access to properties throughout Phases 2 and 3.
Next week, work will be minimal throughout the project. By mid-week, ITS will return to the site and
remove the signage and the detour from phases 2 and 3. Following the removal, traffic will return to Main
Street, with the exception of the truck detour which is directing truck traffic away from Main Street.
Lakes Country Landscaping has indicated they will be working on preparing the boulevards on Phases 1
through 3 for new turf establishment. Preparation for turf in Phase 1 will require additional work to
remove the existing weed growth prior to new seeding. The establishment of turf takes some time, so please be careful when working around the newly seeded areas. Per the contract, the contractor is
responsible for getting the turf going in the right direction, but lawn building takes years to fully establish.
In order to establish a healthy lawn, we ask for a little help from property owners following the contractor
fulfilling their requirements of the contract.
Please see the following tips regarding the care for new turf below.
• When mowing the grass for the first time, don’t mow until the grass blades lay over a bit.
Yes, it will be long, but it needs to be left undisturbed while initially growing. Adjust your
mowing height to two (2) – inches or higher than your normal height and gradually lower
your mowing height over the next couple of mowings.
• There may be some weeds that develop during the initial growing of the turf, these weeds
will subside as the turf underneath grows and will eventually disappear as the turf grass
thickens. Weeds will worsen if the turf is left unattended or cut too low.
• Water, water, water. Water the turf regularly for the first couple months. When the
weather is hot, the grass needs to be watered at least twice a week. When the temps are
cool, it should stay moist.
• The turf is fertilized before being installed, please do not fertilize until sixty days after
initial placement.
• When cleaning the roadway in the winter, the County uses some salt when sanding the
roadway. Watering the turf early next spring will help dilute any salt that has accumulated.
7-12-24 Project Update
Central Specialties and Ottertail Aggregate have been working on Phases 1, 2 & 3 throughout the week.
Early in the week, Central Specialties finished the second lift of pavement on Phases 2 and 3. Ottertail
Aggregate worked on all three phases, cutting existing pavement and preparing the subgrade for tie-ins to
driveways and parking lots. Central Specialties followed the work by Ottertail Aggregate by paving the
driveway tie-ins Tuesday through Thursday.
This morning, Knife Lake Concrete returned to the site to continue pouring sidewalk and driveways on the
westerly portion of Phase 3, from Eighth Avenue to the intersection of County 34 and 51. Knife Lake
anticipates completing the remaining concrete on the phase by the end of the day.
At the end of the day today, traffic signage will be slid to the side of the roadway to allow traffic through
the construction zone for the day.
Next week, Ottertail Aggregate will be shaping the boulevards and tie-ins behind the new sidewalk and
driveways preparing the boulevards for new turf establishment.
Late next week, the detours for Phases 2 and 3 will be removed and traffic will return to Main Street for
approximately a month before construction in Phase 4 begins.
Turtle Race Park Mural
Turtle Race Park Mural
Located in City Hall/Turtle Race Park on the wall of Ottertail Glass, located at 147 East Main Street
Waves of Discovery Mural
Waves of Discovery Mural
Located on 1st Ave N on the wall of Photo Magic, located at 102 West Main Street
Fun Facts and Hidden Objects
This piece was inspired by the artists love for growing up in Perham, the heart of the Minnesota lakes area. It was created with a medium of carved concrete with elements of agates, fossils, fused glass and mosaics. Its design is to encourage interaction and communications among its viewers, both young and old, with over 50 items to seek and find. May you find something that sparks a memory or an emotion. As you discover Perham, Minnesota take the time to enjoy the colors and the textures that surround you.
Incorporated into the artwork are more than 50 items that evoke the history, culture and natural resources of the region.
Can you find them all?
Fun facts and hidden objects they represent are listed below by panel number.
Welcome to Perham Mural
Welcome to Perham Mural
Located in NP Park on the wall of MN Tru North, located at 200 West Main Street
7-3-24 Project Update
With the shortened work week, construction has been limited to a few of the subcontractors on the
project. On Monday morning, Central Specialties began the construction of the first course of bituminous
pavement on Phases 2 & 3. The two-inch course of pavement was constructed over the course of Monday
and Tuesday morning along with connections to the connecting avenues. The second inch and a half
course of pavement was started late in the day, with the southern lane being the first constructed. Central
Specialties had to leave the project area this morning to pave at the current Trunk Highway 10 and County
60 project for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Later today, some of the barricades on Main Street near the intersection of Fourth Avenue West and
County 34/51 will be slid to the side of the roadway to allow for traffic to utilize the street over the long
weekend. Detours will remain up along Second Street South so the barricades can be shifted back on
Monday morning. When utilizing the roadway, please remember that it is an area still under construction,
so bumps and other areas can be expected when driving through the phases.
Next week, Central Specialties will return to the project to finish paving of the second course on Main
Street in Phases 2 and 3. The work is anticipated to be completed early in the week.
Also, next week, Knife Lake Concrete is scheduled to be back on Wednesday to complete the remaining
concrete on Phases 2 and 3 including the construction of driveways and sidewalks on the westerly portion
of the project.
6-28-24 Project Update
Progress continues along Main Street with activities primarily focused on Phases 2 and 3. On Monday, Knife
Lake Concrete arrived in town and has placing concrete all week. Over the course of the week, they have
constructed sidewalk and driveways working their way west from Fourth Avenue West toward the
intersection of County Highways 34 and 51. Any concrete that is not constructed this week will be
constructed during the week of July 8th. This will keep the area clear for other activities along the roadway
during the shortened holiday week. If you have received new driveways along your property, please keep
vehicles off the new concrete for a minimum of seven days to allow for curing of the new concrete.
Also, early this week, detour signage was removed on the easterly portion of the project where Phase 1
construction occurred. Even through the detour is down, Ottertail Aggregate has been cleaning up the
topsoil and other materials behind the curb in the phase. Weather dependent, Lakes Country Landscaping
will begin turf establishment on the portions of the project ready for seed. If your boulevard receives new
seeding, please keep an eye out for information sent in future updates regarding the care for new lawns.
Ottertail Aggregate has continued to prepare the road base of Main Street from Fourth Avenue West to
County 34 and 51. Final aggregate placement occurred early this week with grading, compacting, and
prepping the roadway for pavement. This work will continue throughout the day today and possibly over
the weekend to prepare for next week’s construction.
Next week, Central Specialties will arrive in town to begin paving the bottom two courses of bituminous
pavement on Main Street in Phases 2 and 3. The plan is to start paving on Monday with the completion of
the pavement by end of day Wednesday. Similarly to Phase 1, the pavement will be left approximately 1
and ½ inch below the final paving grade, which will occur later in the project.
With the Fourth of July holiday next week, work will be limited to activities on Monday through
Wednesday. The weekly project update will be sent out on Wednesday next week, updating everyone on
the activities completed, and which portions of the roadway will be open for the Fourth of July Holiday.
6-21-24 Project Update
Although the rain early this week slowed some of the construction activities on the project, the concrete
crew was still able to begin constructing the curb and gutter on Phases 2 and 3 starting yesterday. Ottertail
Aggregate has been the busiest subcontractor in town over the course of the week, with boulevard grading
occurring east of Third Avenue East behind the curb and out to 11th Avenue East where the new sidewalk
was constructed in May.
On Phases 2 and 3, Ottertail Aggregate has finished the subgrade preparation and hauled in the first half of
the aggregate base for the new roadway. Grading of the aggregate will be continuing over the course of
the next week in advance of the new pavement surface.
On Thursday, Knife Lake Concrete arrived in town and started with the construction of the new curb and
gutter from the west side of the intersection of Fourth Avenue West toward the intersection of County 34
and 51. Today, they will be completing the last of the curb and gutter on the phase, making connections of
curb near the new storm sewer inlets previously installed by R.L. Larson.
Next week Knife Lake Concrete will be returning to the site to begin construction of concrete flatwork
(sidewalk and driveways) throughout Phases 2 and 3. If you are affected by the construction of the new
concrete, please work with the contractor to stay off the new driveways and walks to allow for proper
curing of the new concrete.
In addition to Knife Lake working on the concrete in the phase, Ottertail Aggregate will be hauling
additional aggregate base throughout the phase to prepare the roadway for bituminous pavement.
Currently, dependent on weather conditions and upcoming rain, the plan is to pave the roadway the first
days of July, in advance of the Fourth of July.
If you have any questions, or want additional information on the project, the Perham Chamber of
Commerce has created a webpage dedicated to the project, which can be accessed at this link
(https://www.perham.com/2024msrp/). For more specific questions, feel free to contact the City Engineer,
Jade Berube, via email at jade.berube@apexenggroup.com, or City Manager, Jonathan Smith at
jsmith@cityofperham.com.
6-14-24 Project Update
What a change in eight weeks! This week Phase 1 was opened to traffic for the Turtle Fest activities. In the
past eight weeks, R.L. Larson and their crew of subcontractors completed the utility replacement and the
majority of the surface improvements through the first four blocks of the project, allowing the phase to be
open for traffic on Wednesday. Although it isn’t entirely complete, with lights, trees and other grates
pending arrival, along with grading behind the curb, the phase is open for the busy summer tourist season
with the intent to keep the downtown area, from Fourth Avenue West to Third Avenue East open through
mid-August.
Main Street – June 7th
The opening of the first phase to traffic hasn’t slowed the activities on other areas of the project, with the
following activities occurring over the past week.
Early this week, Knife Lake Concrete completed the last of the concrete driveways and sidewalks on Phase
1, constructing the remaining halves of driveways that were unable to be closed during the construction.
R.L. Larson completed the final utility improvements on Phase 3, reconnecting water services in the phase
2024 Main Street Project Update
Main Street, Second Avenue Northeast, and Seventh Avenue Southeast
mid-week. In addition to the work on Phase 3, R.L. Larson relocated inlets at the intersection of Seventh
Avenue and Second Street Southeast, as the roadway will be reconstructed over the course of the summer.
On Monday of this past week, Ottertail Aggregate removed the pavement, curb and gutter and other
surface items on the block of Main Street from Sixth to Seventh Avenue West. Following the removal,
material beneath the roadway has been removed and aggregate is being placed to allow for the future
street reconstruction connecting Phases 2 & 3. Ottertail will be continuing the preparation of the roadbed
and installation of aggregate throughout the course of the next week in advance of curb and gutter
construction.
Next week, work will be focused primarily on the westerly portion of Main Street. Ottertail Aggregate will
continue preparing the roadway for aggregate, by removing material to allow for the placement of the
twelve inches of aggregate base and five inches of bituminous pavement. By Wednesday, nearly half of the
aggregate base will be placed throughout phases 2 and 3, with Knife Lake Concrete scheduled to be back to
the site to construct the curb and gutter throughout the two phases on Thursday and Friday.
Tentatively, the schedule is to continue the construction of the surface features in Phases 2 and 3
throughout the course of the month, with a plan to open the roadway to traffic by the Fourth of July.
6-7-24 Project Update
With three phases of construction underway, activities are occurring on all ends of Main Street. On the
west end of Main Street, R.L. Larson is nearing completion on the watermain replacement from Seventh
Avenue to the intersection of County Highways 34 and 51. Early this week, they made a tie-in to the
existing watermain beneath the intersection to connect to the watermain that runs beneath the railroad
tracks at the intersection. Following the connection, they have shifted back to service line replacement
from the new watermain to the existing buildings along the Phase.
In addition to the replacement of the watermain and services, R.L. Larson has installed various storm sewer
inlets and piping at Sixth Avenue West in advance of the placement of Aggregate Base for the new
roadway. Ottertail Aggregate installed the majority of the aggregate in Phase 2, from Fourth to Sixth
Avenue West early in the week and will be back next week to continue preparing the roadway for surface
improvements.
On Phase 1, Parsons Electric installed the last of the light bases behind the curb early in the week, and Knife
Lake Concrete has been in town throughout the week constructing the new sidewalks throughout the
phase. Various pours of concrete have occurred throughout the week, with the ribbon sidewalk next to the
building and boulevard sidewalk next to the curb being poured at one time, and the colored center sections
poured at a different time. Knife Lake should be finishing with the sidewalk today, with minor touch up
scheduled for next week.
Next week, work will continue on Phases 1, 2 and 3. On Phase 1, the last of the concrete, along with
boulevard shaping east of Third Avenue will be completed early in the week. Tentatively, the plan is to
remove the detour either late Tuesday or early Wednesday and re-direct traffic on the new roadway prior
to Turtlefest. The installation of vegetation, including trees, ornamental grasses and lights will be
completed at a later date, but the roadway will be open for traffic and parking by mid-week. With the gap
in improvement timing between Phases 1 and 4, the east side of the intersection of First and Main, along
with other intersections in the first phase, will have temporary surfaces to allow for the connection of
phases for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The bumps and other transitions through phases will be
addressed when later phases are constructed.
On Phase 2, aggregate touch up and fine grading will occur, along with the removals of the existing surface
on the block between Sixth and Seventh Avenue. On Phase 3, the last of the utilities will be installed, and
subgrade preparation will begin in advance of aggregate installation. Aggregate installation will be
occurring throughout the week on Phases 2 and 3, in advance of concrete curb placement, tentatively
scheduled for the week of June 17th
.