Melrose City Council Backs Option 2 for Dam and Bridge Replacement

MELROSE — October 17, 2019 — Melrose City Council picks Option 2 for its Rock Dam and Bridge project after nearly three years of deliberation. The council voted 4-1 at its October 17 meeting to move forward with bridge replacement and downstream channel realignment — bypassing a more expensive Option 3 that would have also realigned Fifth Avenue — at an estimated total cost of $5.2 million, with a $1.1 million funding gap remaining after a county contribution of up to $2.6 million and the city's committed $700,000 are applied. City Administrator Lisa and WSB engineer Mike presented five options; full rock arch rapids installation was set aside after the DNR signaled it would not support maintaining the lake at full pool. State Senator Torrey Westrom, who attended the meeting, said he had worked to bring the DNR around to a full-pool solution but acknowledged the effort had likely fallen short. The council also unanimously approved amended Ordinance No. 1017-2019 restoring permit requirements for ATVs and golf carts on city streets, and directed staff to prepare updated cost figures and a December 12 LCCMR board presentation.