The Jefferson city council spent most of its May 26 meeting talking about concrete and tree roots.
City engineer Jim Leiding of Bolten & Menk presented the plans, specifications, and opinion of probable cost for the Westwood sidewalk project and work on the alley north of Doc’s Stadium.
The probable cost for the sidewalk project is $883,523, with $$65,181 as a bid alternate for the alley work, for a total of $948,706. Preliminary estimates were $873,810 and $69,100, respectively, for a total of $942,910. The estimates include a 20 percent construction contingency estimate.
Leiding said the increased cost is due to the unexpected need for retaining walls in two places and several places where the sidewalk needs to be back further into driveways to get the correct grade, requiring more concrete work. Also, the original plan was to do curb-cuts only at street crossings, but in two instances it will be necessary to put new cement across the entire intersection to meet ADA regulations.
The council set June 23 for a public hearing on the plans and specifications, setting the bid security at 5 percent, and setting July 1 as the bid letting date. The completion date will be July 31, 2027.
Bolton & Menk drainage engineer Jon Rosengren presented the long-awaited report on Drainage District 57, which covers much of the northeast portion of the city. Residents have had issues with water in their basements. The more easily visible result of poor drainage is the flooding at the fairgrounds on E. Lincoln Way following a heavy rain.
Rosengren said the system was installed in 1911, with another pre-existing line added in 1924. The outlet for the drain is a tributary to Hardin Creek east of the city. The county was in charge of the tile until Iowa Code 468 made it the responsibility of the city.
Rosengren reported that only exploratory work was possible because the existing manholes are too small and tree roots and silt prevented televising to “get anywhere useful.”
He presented three repair options: a “bare bones” option of adding manholes and using a root cutter or jetter to remove roots; replacing the section of tile from Adams to the former railroad tracks north of the bike trailhead; and repairing the outlet into Hardin Creek.
He added that once the tiles are cleaned, other problems may become apparent, but that without being able to visualize the tiles, that’s unknown.
He said the drainage tiles are not size as storm sewers are, but if they were clean and functioning the fairgrounds would drain in 13 hours after a 4-inch rain.
The city already owns a jetter. Council member Chad Sloan suggested purchasing a cutting head for the jetter and trying to clean out the tiles. “That head’s expensive, but it could knock (the roots) out and save thousands of dollars,” Sloan said.
The city council serves as trustees of the drainage district and would by law make any decisions about it.
City administrator Scott Peterson suggested that it could be that the city would undertake the project and cover the cost, without involving property owners as is done with agricultural drainage tiles. If landowners end up paying, the payments could be spread over as long as 20 years.
The issue was referred to the council’s streets/water/sewer committee.
The council approved an amendment to the contract between the city and the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the $600,000 grant for the conversion of the historic Jefferson high school from June 30 to July 31. Developer/owner Chris Deal said there were discrepancies in dates between certificate of completion and project occupancy, and amending the agreements with the city using the July 31 date was the change to make.
Deal reported the project is “moving along very well” and that he anticipated the first walk-through and temporary occupancy for the first 10 units later in the week.
“There’s been tremendous interest in the project with a couple of open houses we’ve done thus far, and another one planned for the Saturday of Bell Tower Festival,” he said.
He expects a fall lease-up with move-ins not long after that.
The council held and approved the second reading of an ordinance to increase retail water rates by 2 percent, as well as the second reading of an ordinance to increase the landfill fee from $3.50 to $6.10 per month and increasing charges for picking up certain special or bulk items. The council held a second public hearing on the amendment to the FY2025-26 budget amendment. A hearing had been held at the May 12 meeting, but that hearing was not valid as correct public notice had not been given prior to it. As with the first hearing, no one spoke. The council approved the budget amendment showing increased revenues of $2.86 million and increased expenditures of $1.89 million.
