The Jefferson Street/Sewer/Sanitation/Water committees met earlier this week in regular session.
The meeting opened with a discussion of a parking issue on East Wilcox Way. Currently, parking on that street alternates between even and odd days to correspond with parking on the north and south sides. The confusion created concerns for fire trucks, emergency vehicles and garbage collection crews not fitting through the narrow street.
Police Chief Mark Clouse proposed parking only on the north side and moving all mailboxes to the south side. Jefferson Post Master Peg Ericson said mail won’t be delivered to mailboxes that are blocked. Following discussion with residents, the committee will recommend to the City Council an ordinance change to park on the north side and leave the mailboxes at their current locations.
The committee then discussed a proposal from John Hamilton’s attorney Chip Baltimore in regards to increasing the curb cut-out for driveways and garages. Baltimore requested changing the City’s ordinance to allow for a variance to allow for an extended curb cut-out. Currently the City allows for 24-foot maximum length. Hamilton wants 36-feet for a three-vehicle garage he is building on his property in Briarwood Estates. Following the discussion, the committee agreed to instruct City Attorney Bob Schwarzkopf to look into changing the ordinance.
The committee then denied a request to post stop signs at the intersection of Wilson and Monroe streets. Clouse mentioned there weren’t more accidents than any other uncontrolled intersections in town.
Next, the committee heard an update on three walking path projects from City Engineer Jim Leiding. He said Bolton and Menk is continuing discussions with the Department of Transportation about their regulations for the Greenwood Trail that will be crossing Highway 4. The committee then instructed Leiding to place the Central Avenue Trail on the south side. Finally, Leiding talked about grinding down the current trail at Daubendiek Park and pouring a six-inch concrete overlay for a cost estimate of $290,000. The committee agreed to include the Daubendiek Park project with the other two to receive better bids.
Another street issue was Arch Alley on the north side of the downtown square. Crews cut into the existing concrete to prepare the footings for three metal arches, when they struck an underground surface that the City’s drill bits couldn’t get through. The committee suggested Leiding to work on it.
Following a brief discussion, the committee agreed to allow Wastewater Superintendent Denny Moranville to purchase two ceiling heaters to replace the current boiler system at the treatment plant for $10,522. However, the purchase would put the utility over budget and so City staff will look into using Local Option Sales and Services (LOSST) funds for the purchase. Additionally, the committee approved using Bolton and Menk to handle the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System with the Iowa DNR, as well as a $48,500 estimate to prepare the wastewater plant facility plan to the DNR by June 2020.
The committee approved a water line replacement project from Adams to Chestnut streets. Water Superintendent Tom Schilling said the project will include taking out an existing dead end line so that the new line will be looped through the affected area. The total cost would be over $247,000. The water department maintenance budget is $200,000 and so the committee decided to split the cost of the project over two fiscal years.