Council approves public hearings on drainage improvement projects

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council unanimously approved a resolution setting next Monday, Aug. 24, as the date for a hearing on the 2020 Drainage Improvement Project.

The resolution, passed at the council’s regular meeting this week,  approves the preliminary plans and specifications for the project. The hearing will be regarding the final plans, specifications and form of contract for the project, and sets the amount of the bid security at 10% of the bid amount.

City Engineer John Fallis told the board that the project is designed to help improve three separate drainage issues. The project includes a storm sewer extension in the 1100 block of South Grand near Comet Bowl, a diversion ditch in the 500 and 600 blocks of J Street, and site drainage at the Charles City Arts Center building.

Fallis said the proposal is to place intakes on South Grand near O’Reilly’s Auto Parts to intercept the surface water in the street gutter and discharge it into a new storm sewer extension that will outlet the flow on the east side of the property.

Utilizing an existing storm sewer system as an outlet, construction of a diversion ditch is planned near the east side of the J Street properties to direct the storm water runoff that can now inundate these homes, to the storm sewer at 8th Avenue.

At the Charles City Arts Center building, improvements will be made to the handicap entrance to the building’s lower level. During large rain events, the storm drain at the handicap entrance into the building experiences backup of storm water.

The trench drain outlet at the handicap entrance will be redirected to a deeper storm sewer outlet and a short storm sewer extension to intercept the roof drainage runoff that can now flow into the handicap entrance will be added.

The handicap curb ramp approach to the building does not meet current ADA requirements. This curb ramp will be reconstructed to meet the required slopes.

In other action, the council set a public hearing for Sept. 21 regarding the Gilbert Street lift station. City Administrator Steve Diers explained that the secondary part of the Water Resource Recovery Project (WRRF) was the alternate bid on replacing the Chautauqua sewer lift station.

The station will be moved 100 feet to the east to bring it out of the flood plain and replace undersized pumps to provide for better operation during flood events and handle larger flows. The costs for this project were part of an overall $16.8 million bid by Portzen Construction.

In other business Monday, the city unanimously approved final plans and specifications awarding the bid and approving the contract and bond for the 2020 4th Avenue/5th Avenue water main project

The council had approved preliminary plans and specifications for the project and authorized taking bids for the construction work at the July 20 meeting. The project includes a new eight-inch water main from North Grand Avenue to east of L Street.

The major construction items consist of approximately 5,100 lineal feet of water main, new fire hydrants, valves, and services within the right-of-way,

This project is part of the city’s responsibility to improve underground utilities located under Highway 18 paving in preparation for the DOT’s asphalt overlay project of Highway 18, which will be done in 2021. The Iowa DOT is proposing to improve Highway 18 from Gilbert Street to near Superior Lumber.

Bids were opened on Aug. 14, and four bids were received. As of Friday afternoon, the city was still reviewing the bids and checking information. It is intended to have this review completed prior to next Monday’s council meeting.

The council also unanimously approved a grant application for Traffic Safety Improvement Program (TSIP) funds for the North Grand/Fourth Avenue intersection.

Fallis explained to the council that in 2018, Snyder and Associates — working for the Iowa DOT — prepared a Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) study on the intersection.

The results of this study are incorporated into the Iowa DOT’s Highway 18 asphalt overlay project scheduled for next year. Snyder and Associates has prepared an application for additional funding through the Traffic Safety Improvement Program.

The total project cost opinion is $3 million, and this includes $550,000 for traffic signal improvements. The TSIP application is requesting $316,000 in funding. The application includes the traffic signals at Clark Street and North Grand, and the pedestrian signal at F Street. Applications are due in August and awards made by the DOT Commission in late December or early January.

At the public hearing, the required environmental study will be reviewed.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the council:

— Unanimously approved lien releases for properties at 602. S. Johnson and 1101 Grove Street, each in the amount of $24,999. The homeowners of these properties participated in the 2012 CDBG Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program. As a result of their participation, a lien was recorded against their property for the amount of the work completed.

— Unanimously approved the use of city property at the former Kelly Street right-of-way for placement of an outdoor seating area. An AARP Community Challenge Grant has awarded $1,099.45 to the project. The design committee will fund $420 for a local match and the Park and Recreation Department will provide $200 and in-kind labor to install the new tables.

Community development Director Mark Wicks told the council that he’s hoping to have the seating installed in a month or two.

— Unanimously approved a resolution expressing intent to provide economic development support to the Cambrex Charles City Inc. expansion project. Cambrex is planning a $42 million expansion at its facility in Charles City. The project will add 32 jobs, bringing the total jobs to 408 by the end of the three-year loan term. As part of the local match, the company has requested a $40,000 forgivable loan.

— Unanimously approved a contract with SEH for a clear well study. The city worked with SEH on water distribution model last year, so it would be able to utilize the model data to see how a larger clear well will impact the distribution system as a whole. This agreement is for a not-to-exceed amount of $8,850. There is $10,000 in the budget for this project.

— Unanimously approved the reappointment of Jeff Sisson to the airport commission. Sisson’s term has expired, but he expressed interest in serving again.