Major street project approved by council
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A significant street improvement project was given the go-ahead at the Monday, September 20 meeting of the Mount Ayr city council.
The project includes resurfacing of a number of streets:
• South Henderson Street from Highway 2 south to where the street turns to dirt;
• West Adams Street from Polk Street west to Lincoln Street;
• North Taylor Street from Elm Street to Kneedler Street;
• Polk Street between Columbus and Washington streets;
• Valley West Street from Columbus Street south to the dead end.
All but Valley West and Polk streets would receive a new three-inch asphalt surface.
Valley West would receive new concrete, while Polk would be renovated in preparation for potential resurfacing at a future date.
All asphalt work would be completed by Grimes Asphalt out of Grimes, IA with a cost estimate of nearly $388,000.
Concrete work on Valley West Street will be completed by Cedar Valley Construction at a cost between $40-50,000.
The rehabilitation of Polk Street was estimated at less than $50,000.
Funding for the project will come from dollars left over from the Garfield Street project and road funds already included in the current city budget.
Resurfacing of the entirety of Van Buren Street was put on hold pending storm water mitigation work in that area.
Plans to resurface the runway, turn-arounds, and taxi-ways at the municipal airport are also under consideration, but a contractor has not yet been identified for that work. It was hoped Grimes Asphalt would be available for the airport improvements while in town for the street project.
In a related matter, the city has received a grant of $96,943 to install new lighting and overhead doors at the airport. Estimated cost of the project is $129,258.
The council also approved two new members to the airport commission: Steve Adams and Jack McConnell.
Other business
In other action the council:
• accepted the resignation of Matt Hudson from the park board;
• approved the sale of the city-owned house at 106 Webster Street to John and Amy Ford. Sale price was $75,000. A public hearing regarding the sale was set for the October 4 council meeting;
• took no action on the pending city acquisition of a property at 703 North Cleveland Street pending confirmation that the property carries no liens;
• following a public hearing, completed the first reading of a new city ordinance setting increases in city garbage service rates. Pending final approval, garbage pickup rates would increase 2 percent per year effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027.
• received word that JEO Consulting, the group hired to provide planning for a new city swimming pool, will present three potential designs with a cost analysis at a Zoom meeting this week, with a follow-up meeting in person with the pool committee October 6.
• approved the application for a Power Connection grant to seek an evaluation of the Carlson building by a structural engineer. City superintendent Brent Wise said the resulting documentation would be useful should the building be sold to a third party of if the city acquired the property;
• learned the Lockridge Networks had been awarded a $289,977 grant to facilitate bringing broadband Internet to Ringgold County.
