HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 03.09.2015 MINUTES
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
MARCH 9, 2015 5:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Chuck Dickerson
Bill Mountsier Chuck Rodgers
Richard Herr Kurt Markegard
OTHERS PRESENT: Shirley Ewan
Chairman Eaton called the regular meeting of the Public Works Committee to order at 5:30 p.m. There
was no public in attendance.
Shirley presented the Committee with an explanation of how the Street Maintenance Funds have been
spent over the last 5 years. She let the Committee know about the every other year"Small Cap Projects",
which will include 8th Street and Pennsylvania this coming fiscal year. From 2010-2012, the 8'h Avenue
project was completed. The City was required to pay for the storm water portion of the project which cost
$608,330. In the fiscal year 2011-2012, the Street Department purchased 1 pick-up for$25,018, 1 flatbed
for$14,510 and 1 street sweeper for$136,733. In the fiscal year 2012-2013,the Street Department
started with the 5`h Street and Cottonwood Avenue project. This project was not completed until 2014 in
the amount of$671,512. The Street Department is now working on the next"Small Caps Project"with
the engineering on 8th and Pennsylvania. This project will begin in the fiscal year 2015-2016. Over the
last 4 years, the City has spent$861,803 on repairs and maintenance of the City streets; this does not
include wages paid out of the street fund.
The only fund that supports street repairs is the Street Maintenance Fund, which receives approximately
$597,000 from assessments per year. In order to maintain the"Small Cap Projects",management has
chosen to allow the R-O-W fees collected from the sewer and water departments to be received by the
Street Department rather than the General Fund. This amounts to approximately$340,000 per year and is
not being spent until the next project has been defined and approved. This will allow the capital projects
to continue. The way these projects are determined is through which streets need sewer or water lines
replaced and the condition of the street itself. If water or sewer lines need to be replaced, the water and
sewer departments will pay their share of the reconstruction of the street.
Chuck mentioned that the Catholic Church street and 5th and Cottonwood have not been chip sealed yet
and wonders if they will be done this year. He would also like to know where the chips that are swept up
go and if they can be reused. Kurt explained that those streets would probably be chip sealed this year or
next and the chips that are swept up remain with the contractor. The cost to clean and reuse the chips is
too expensive for the City to keep them.
Emelie suggested that an article be placed in the Laurel Outlook to let people know where their money is
going, because if they are not on one of the reconstructed streets, they are unaware of what is being fixed
or replaced. She also feels that the article should tell how the next project is determined.
At this time, Kurt presented the new"Small Caps Project"for fiscal year 2015-2016. He handed out
maps of the new project area and explained that a new water line would be placed on Pennsylvania and
around the corner on Eighth Street up to the back of the high school. Eighth Street from Pennsylvania to
1'Avenue will have new streets reconstructed. There will also be an SID from the high school up
Pennsylvania to 9th Street for repair and placement of sidewalks. A new culvert will be placed at the end
of Pennsylvania to cover the ditch. Hopefully, this will be done in conjunction with the sidewalk plan
around Thomson Park. The sidewalks around Thomson Park will be paid for with CTEP funds and Gas
Tax funds. Great West is currently working on the design and cost of the Pennsylvania and Eighth Street
project.
Kurt mentioned that the City has budgeted to revamp the sewer line from Locust to Elm, due to the high
levels of H2S gas that are being produced at the Elm Avenue Lift Station. The plan is to gravity feed to
Elm and bypass the lift station 1,200 feet down the highway and move it to the sewer main from there.
The current sewage is moved using pressurized mains and the backlash of the procedure is the smell.
Chuck made a motion to have this brought to the Council's attention during the budget process and to let
them know it is in the Sewer budget at this time. The motion was seconded by Bill, all in favor, motion
passed.
Richard inquired as to whether someone can patch the holes in the street at the underpass on l'Avenue.
Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Sincerely,
Shirley Ewan
Clerk/Treasurer
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