COMMUNITY NOTES: Engineering department times are a-changin’

By John D. Fallis, PE, CFM, Charles City City Engineer

Bob Dylan’s hit song in 1964 sung about how the times were changing, and the Engineering Department has experienced changes this year.

I had been planning for my retirement, and the city hired Brian Sullivan late last year as a new engineer and my replacement. Brian started in December, and I ended full time employment and started part-time employment at the beginning of May.

Brian is a graduate of Iowa State University and is working on state licensure as a professional engineer (PE). Part of the prerequisite for obtaining a state engineering license is passing an examination and completing an engineering-related work requirement. Congratulations to Brian for recently passing his exam.

Over the course of the next two years, I will remain on staff on a part-time basis and provide professional engineering supervision to Brian so he can meet the work requirement for licensure. Engineering licensure is important for the city. Without an engineering license in Iowa, a graduate engineer cannot sign plans, specifications or any other engineering study or document.

The Engineering Department has the following three large projects planned for next year:

• Main Street Rehabilitation Project – This project involves removing the existing asphalt surface and placing a new asphalt surface from Gilbert to Lane Streets, realigning and reconstructing Main Street on the former Lane Street between Main Street and North Grand Avenue. This project will also include intermittent curb and gutter replacement and pedestrian sidewalk curb ramps at the intersections.

• Charley Western Bike Trail Extension – A 10-foot-wide bike trail will be extended along 11th Avenue from the end of the existing Charley Western Trail at F Street to North Grand Avenue.

• 2024 Permeable Paving Project – This project is a water quality improvement project in the Howard, Blunt and Ferguson streets area, using sponsored dollar funding from the Water Resource Recovery Facility. The construction will be similar to the previous permeable paving projects including new underground utilities with pavers and concrete curb and gutter.

Please watch for new releases as these projects proceed into construction and how your drive around the city may be impacted. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Brian at City Hall.