Cresco Council hears new proposal on sewer project

CRESCO - In a longer-than-usual meeting, Cresco City Council heard several proposals and received information to make future decisions on various issues on  April 19.

• Daren Sikkink addressed council regarding the storm sewer project at 7th St. SW and Hwy. 9. At the March 22 meeting, the WHKS engineer presented a water main and storm and sanitary sewer project on 7th St. W. from 4th Ave. W. to Hwy. 9. The project was estimated at $2.6 million.

He was asked to revise the scope of the plan, breaking the project down to just include fixing the area between A&W/LJS and H&S Motors that frequently floods during heavy rains. He brought that proposal to the April 19 meeting, stating the cost would be about $905,000 and does not extend to the sink hole area, south and west of 4th St. (The DNR first brought up the sink hole back in 1987, which has not been fixed.) Sikkink noted it would be easy enough to hook onto the smaller project at a future date.

“We would plan for a 10-year storm event,” he explained. (A 10-year flood is figured as 4.5 inches of rain falling in a 24-hour period. Sikkink said they are becoming even more common than every 10 years.)

Part of the solution will be to put in a 36-inch pipe to remove storm water. Currently there is a 24-inch pipe. That pipe will still be utilized with the addition of the second one.

“We will try to keep the storm sewer separate from the highway storm sewer. They will run parallel. If one pipe is full, it would go to the other.”

Council person Amy Bouska said council should get more of an overview of all areas that flood. “There are more areas than this one,” she stated.

It was mentioned it might take longer to complete any water and sewer projects because of the shortage of plastic pipe. Instead of one year, it might take two years to complete.

• Council accepted the bid of $40,090 from Lakeside Equipment Corp. to replace the grit removal equipment at the sewer plant. If grit gets past the first part, it can ruin the flutes on the pump. It is a budgeted project.

• Public Works Director Nate Widell reported the big water tower was being inspected, with pictures being taken.

The street department was busy picking up waste from the spring clean-up on April 19. There were three more days scheduled, May 3 and 17 and June 1. The next pick-ups will start in October.

Regional Health Services of Howard County requested putting a four-way intersection for 1st Ave. E. and 4th St. E., near its new building, the former Zahasky Photography business. Administrators also asked if staff could park on the bike path until the new parking lot is installed this summer. 

“Robin [Schluter, CEO] said people complained they couldn’t park in front of their houses,” Widell explained. Staff had been staying off the bike path and parking on the other side of the street. No decisions were made, but the issue will be put on a future agenda.

• City Clerk Michelle Girolamo reported an ad went in the paper asking for board members. “Each board has at least one position expiring,” she noted.

• Council person Alex Fortune stated Cresco Theatre had 83 people attend the Elvis concert at Cresco Theatre. “Everyone followed the Theatre’s rules of socially distancing and wearing masks.” He also said, instead of showing older movies during 2020, the Theatre has been only showing new movies. “We’re moving in the right direction.”

• Dave Brenno said membership at Cresco Fitness Center was up a little more than it has been.

• Girolamo presented a request to allow a capital improvement planner to speak to council at the May 3 meeting.

“We need a strategic plan. We need to get a handle on capital improvement and get organized,” she said. 

It would cost about $10,000 to get a planner, the clerk is leaning toward Elizabeth Hanson of Midwest Municipal Consulting. 

All agreed it would be a good idea. Bouska said, “We are long overdue for this.”

Council person Rich McConnell added staff would probably still have a lot of work to do to help out the planner. Girolamo said she expected that.

• A public hearing will be held on May 3 to approve a request for changing a property from M-1 to C-2 zoning.

• Council approved a resolution to adopt policies pertaining to qualifications for a FEMA grant for reimbursement of COVID supplies.

• Girolamo reported water consumption was down. “Showerheads and toilets are more efficient. That means our revenue is going down. With our budget, we are going to be $11,000-$12,000 short this year,” she estimated.

Council had made the decision a few years ago to raise rates in smaller increments rather than have a 30% increase, which happened one year.

Last year, the increase was 3% for both water and sewer. Girolamo suggested 6% for water and 4% for sewer this year. Council approved the increase. It will take three council meetings to approve the amending of the ordinance.

• The clerk reviewed the tax abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan and the differences in eligible amounts. She reviewed the Iowa Code with attorneys Ahlers & Cooney. The plan will be discussed again and approved before December.

New applications for tax abatement were approved for John and Amanda Schmitz, Richard and Robyn Lane and Ryan and Carrie McCarville.

The next council meeting will be Monday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m.