Charles City prepares for 4th of July events

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council approved Independence Day street closures, received an update on the fire engine refurbishment plan and began its goodbye to City Administrator Steve Diers during its regular meeting on Monday, June 16.

Preparing for summer events, Community Development Director Mark Wicks approached the council with two street closures requests.

On Friday, July 4, Main Street Charles City is holding its annual Firecracker 5K race. Starting at the high school on Friday morning, the 5K run will begin at the high school football field and run along the Charley Western Trail, requiring traffic control at the Salsbury/Clark Street crossing. Proceeds for the run will go toward improvements to the trail.

“It’s the exact same as it was last year,” said Wicks.

Also for the Fourth of July, Main Street Charles City is again asking for the closure of the Main Street Bridge from 9-11:30 p.m. for the annual Independence Day Fireworks Show.

Continuing a discussion from the previous workshop, the council approved a new memorandum of understanding between the city and the St. Charles Township to adjust plans for refurbishing two of the Fire Department’s engines, Engine 251 and 252.

Originally the plan was to refurbish both Engine 251 and 252, however an opportunity to replace the 27-year-old Engine 251 with a 2006 Pierce Dash has appeared. At $323,000, the new truck would only be $26,665 more than the cost to refurbish.

“It seems like it’s a much better deal,” said Charles City Fire Chief Sam Deverell.

Meanwhile, Deverell has been in discussion with Chatfield Brothers Repair in Floyd with a quote to refurbish Engine 252. When presented last week, the estimate was at around $125,000. Since then, the estimate has increased to a high-end of $155,000, depending on the amount of work needed for the pump.

Even with the higher estimate, the plan is still expected to save roughly $63,000 dollars compared to the original plan.

In new business, the council approved a bid from Larry Elwood Concrete to construct a sidewalk along the south side of 11th Street in anticipation of the Kading housing development. As part of last year’s land swap with FCMC, the cost of the sidewalk will be split between the city and the hospital.

On a related project, the council likewise approved a bid from Mehmert Tilling to construct a connecting a temporary trail between 11th Street and 13th Street.

In other business, the council held a public hearing ahead of the third and final reading of an ordinance to vacate an abandoned portion of 13th Avenue. The city-owned property was once intended to be used for an extension of 13th Avenue, but the street has since angled in a different direction. Vacating the property now will avoid creating potential titling issues in the future.

Regarding another vacation, the council set a public hearing to vacate an unused portion of Cedar Street right-of-way that extends past the road’s turn into Riden Circle and into a landlocked parcel. The council approved setting the public hearing for July 7, with the exception of council member DeLaine Freesemen, who abstained due to owning said parcel and making the request for the vacation.

And giving more work for the Zoning Commission, the council approved a resolution directing it to review the rezoning of a city-owned parcel near Shaw Avenue as the EPA requires the land to not allow residential dwellings.

The council also approved an agreement with WIN Fiber detailing the terms for an ongoing arrangement WIN Fiber has with the city to store equipment at City Hall. With the new City Hall renovations underway, a new agreement has been made to continue that arrangement in the new building.

In employee matters, the council approved a resolution setting the new salaries and wages for appointed officers and non-collective bargaining employees.

“I think we’re very fortunate to have these folks,” said council member Patrick Lumley. “It’s one thing to provide a service, but it’s another to provide good service.”

Finally, City Administrator Diers gave his last report to the council, updating the members on the latest status of ongoing city projects and the search for an interim city administrator to fill his position.

“I’ve really enjoyed it here for the last 11 years,” said Diers. “I couldn’t ask for a better group.”