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By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Hwy. 200 — yes or no?

At their Monday night meeting, Hillsboro city commissioners revisited what seemed like a done deal — the reconstruction of Hwy. 200.

The $3 million project is on the N.D. Department of Transportation’s construction schedule for the summer of 2008. On a 3-2 vote, city commissioners gave the project a green light in July. At the time, concerns about the design and cost of the project divided the commission.

Some paperwork — and some new cost-sharing figures — from the NDDOT prompted another vote on the project Monday.

By a 3-1 vote, commissioners agreed to move forward with the project — at least for now. 

If the commission backs out of the project, the city would be responsible for all engineering costs accrued to date — an estimated $150,000, noted  commission president Kevin Burg.

Commissioner Mike Lessard maintained his opposition to the project, repeating concerns that cost increases have been disproportionately shifted to the city’s share.

The vote Monday approved a “preliminary engineering reimbursement agreement.” A similar vote is expected prior to bid letting when a “cost participation and maintenance agreement” is up for approval. The document is expected to provide more accurate calculations of cost estimates. Bids are expected to be opened in March.

Commissioner Jeff Nelson said, “With the amount of money we’re on the hook for, we should go through to bidding. I’d hate to stop it now.”

Burg noted that the city’s engineering firm has seen very competitive bidding lately, which should work to the city’s advantage. He added, “I want the project to move forward. I don’t unnecessarily care for the process but it is what it is.”

He noted that public input, especially from the business community, has favored the road reconstruction.

Burg said he “did not disagree” with Lessard’s concerns about the estimated cost increases and the lack of control the city seems to have over the project.

The ND Hwy. 200 reconstruction project was awarded a federal grant in the fall of 2005 as part of the N.D. Small Town Revitalization Endeavor for Enhancing Transportation or NDSTREET grants. State grant money was expected to total at least $400,000 — although new figures suggest less. The city’s share of the construction costs is expected to be slightly more than $1 million. The city pledged its willingness to pay for the more expensive concrete option and maintaining a wider roadway.

While the grant was advertised as a 80-10-10 cost share, the city commission has agreed to cover more than 10 percent in order to get the kind of road residents have insisted they want and complete additional  infrastructure improvements (sewer and water lines) while the street is torn up.

Residents will likely pay for the improvements to the road and underground infrastructure through special assessments — estimated at $135 a year for the owner of a 100-foot lot over 15 years. Additional drainage improvements tied into the Hwy. 200 work would add another estimated $45 to annual specials for 20 years. The city has other options of financing water and sewer improvements

In other business, the commission:

■  Noted that six utility accounts face disconnection if not paid by November 19.

■  Held the first reading for Ordinance 474 increasing electrical rates for residential and commercial customers effective January 1.

■  Delayed approving a new three-year contract with Waste Management for garbage collection and disposal until contract language could be clarified.