Council votes that two big city projects move forward

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Two big projects received the go-ahead Wednesday after City Council members approved the next step in the process to construct an $18 million water resource recovery facility and new Charley Western Trail Bridge.

The final design plans for the $1.2 million Charley Western Trail Bridge were given the green light at a regular council meeting to begin work to replace the old bridge that was demolished last summer.

Calhoun Burns will be paid an amount not to exceed $64,500 for architecture work done for the project that has a letting date for potential bids slated for January 2020. The city has already secured $330,000 in federal TAP funding to build the bridge.

City Administrator Steve Diers said once bids are accepted, the project “can hit the ground running” by next spring.

The bridge will be ADA (American Disability Act) accessible and allow emergency vehicles to cross its 12-foot width.

“You can get some pretty big things across it,” said Diers. “It’s built to support anything short of a fire truck – including some, but not the aerial.”

The old bridge was 390 feet long, but Diers said this bridge would  sit lower in the ground than its predecessor and come in right around 350 feet. The bridge will feature a couple bump-outs that will allow people walking over the bridge a chance to relax or fish on the Cedar River.

Decorative railing and lighting along the bridge are some other key components of the proposed constructed piece.

The bridge has a substantial completion date of December 2021.

The WRRF is also moving forward.

The council voted unanimously to set public hearing dates for consideration of plans and specifications for the activated sludge plant project.

Diers said the effort to replace the current 54-year old wastewater treatment plant has a total estimated cost of $19.5 million. But that number could come in lower depending on the bids received for the project, Diers said. Bids can be sent out by Aug. 8.

“I’ve got three or four years worth of work sitting here to move forward on,” Diers said. “We’re hoping for a lot of bids and a lot of good bids.”

The construction of the WRRF will help eliminate nitrogen and phosphorus – two nutrients that have been identified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources that are required to be reduced under the city’s most recent permit issuance in 2014.

Creation of equalization basins, that help with heavy water flows, is also a key component to the project.

Another facet of the proposed undertaking is reed bed installation. The bio-solids left over from treating wastewater creates a sludge that needs to be hauled off from the current site. Once completed, the beds will naturally dewater the sludge and be able to turn it into dry compost material that can easily be removed.

Diers said a portion of the funding is planned to come from the Iowa Department of Natural Resource SRF (State Revolving Fund) loan.

The new plant has a timeline that could see it online by the spring of 2021. Demolition of the old plant would be done by December 2021 and site restoration completed by May 2022, according to preliminary plans.

Other action taken at the meeting is as follows:

– The new proposed city and county transit agreement with NIACOG (North Iowa Area Council of Governments) that would begin July 1 of this year was approved. NIACOG reimburses the city for half of the service’s operating deficit under terms of the contract. The maximum amount of the contract is $207,000 and the estimated contribution by NIACOG is $51,000.

– The council also approved plans to set letting dates for the 2019 Drainage Improvement Project. The city plans on addressing three areas in town that have dealt with high-water issues. The first project is to improve the storm sewer drainage in the 1100 block of South Grand by Comet Bowl. A diversion ditch would also be constructed in the 500 and 600 blocks of J Street and work would be done on site drainage at the Charles City Arts Center.

– The council passed a resolution to amend the WRRF project in order to upgrade the Chautauqua lift station. The total estimated cost of the upgrades are $250,000 and the council approved a design services agreement for that work to be done by Fox Engineering for $28,000.

– A quote of over $12,000 by Otto’s Oasis to build retaining walls in the 200 block of North Illinois Street was approved.

– A new John Deere loader for the street department to be purchased for $125,000 from Murphy Tractor out of Waterloo was OK’d.