Council takes first step toward large lagoon lime removal project

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council talked about lime removal and land exchange during its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 5.

The city approved preliminary plans for a residual lime removal project for one of the city’s water treatment lagoons.

The city uses lime as part of the water treatment process, resulting in a byproduct that gradually accumulates residual materials. Though partial removal projects have been done in the past, the lagoon has never been fully purged and is in need of a complete cleaning.

The city will start seeking bids for the project in August with the intention of holding a public hearing to approve bids on Sept. 3 and an expectation that the project be complete by April 1 of 2025.

For a more immediate project, the council approved a $13,574 bid from DeBoest Concrete to replace curb and gutter and install an ADA ramp to the corner of North Grand along Immaculate Conception School.

IC is in the process of its own project to replace sidewalk along the property and it was determined that along with the curb and gutter already needing work, it would be difficult for IC to its project without the city also fixing the curb.

In other business, the city approved the purchase of an automated pool vacuum for the city pool. Parks and Recreation Department Director Tyler Mitchell explained that the pool’s current vacuum is nearing the need for replacement, making this a good time to upgrade to an automated device.

“This will greatly reduce the hours that we put in vacuuming,” said Mitchell.

The council approved the $11,752.45 bid (including shipping) from Carrico Aquatics for the robotic cleaner.

In old business, the council held a public hearing regarding the pending agreement between the city and Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) for a land exchange.

FCMC is interested in acquiring the eastern portion of 13th Street to facilitate its plans for southward expansion. In exchange, FCMC would give the city roughly 7.5 acres of land directly west of the hospital, which the city has an interest in using for potential housing development.

The agreement between the two entities includes language to maintain utility easements, along with discussion of cost sharing to install a gravel trail between 13th Street and 11th Street and install sidewalks along 11th Street.

For residents of the Cedar Crest Apartments, who reside on 13th Street, the city is already in the process of expanding the street westward to Corporate Drive. Because process of exchanging the properties will require several months worth of public hearings and resolution readings, it is expected that the westward expansion of 13th Street will be complete at about the same time as the land swap.

“The street will be open to the west before anything is closed to the east,” said City Administrator Steve Diers.

As part of the process, the council approved a resolution to ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider vacating that portion of 13th Street.

In a related matter, the council also approved an application for the commission to consider the vacation of a portion of unused right-of-way on Walnut Avenue. The owner of the adjacent property to the right-of-way has requested the vacation and the city is in support.

The council also held a public hearing for the second reading of a pair of ordinances to amend the city’s Unified Development Ordinance to allow for larger signage along the Avenue of the Saints and to reduce height and setback restrictions for garages and other accessory buildings.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended the city adopt an ordinance increasing the maximum signage area of signs along the Avenue of the Stains to 275 square feet, bringing the city in line with many other cities along the road.

The commission has also recommended in increase in the allowable garage sidewall height to 12 feet, allowing for garages to accommodate larger vehicles so long as the height doesn’t exceed that of the main structure.

The same ordinance would decrease the setback distance for side and rear yard property lines to six feet, allowing for larger buildings.

Finally, the council approved an agreement with Impact 7G to write a grant that could secure funding for improvements and repairs to the Whitewater Course. The city will be committing $15,000 to get the grant, which could award as much as $10-15 million in funds.

“It’s a very minimum expense for a potentially large return,” said council member Patrick Lumley.