9.e PW - Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 7/18/2023
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: PW - Staff Report
Roads/ROW
Public Works staff have completed the single pass mowing of the ROW, but still working on clearing sight lines
at intersections and around road signage.
Bluhm Construction has competed all of the road patching listed below.
Location: Repair to road / Closest Intersection
1: Ozark Ave / Hwy 97
2: Parrish Road / Hwy 97
3: Ostrum Ave / Oakhill Road
4: Oren Ave / Hwy 97
5: Meadowbrook Ave / Hwy 97
6: 217th St / Manning Ave
7: Morgan Ave / 238th St
8: Morgan Ave / 240th St
9: 240th between Olinda and 95 Multiple locations
10: 197th / Oxboro Ave
Public Works has continued spraying under guardrails and sign posts where the ditch mowing equipment is
unable to clear brush and grass. This application will control woody plants and unwanted vegetation.
Repairs to the guardrails on 199th St N will take place sometime this fall. Public Works is receiving quotes for
the repairs required and will be evaluating cost and timeline for the best choice of contractor. Fallen trees
caused the majority of the damage to the guardrail system.
Parks
Seasonal staff have been busy cleaning our and mulching the landscape beds throughout the City. Currently,
staff are working on the landscaping around the monument near Hay Lake.
Playground Project:
Public Works has been in discussion with the playground installer and a start date for installation is July 16th.
Sewer
Bolton & Menk staff and Public Works coordinated soil boring at the Bliss Drain Field, which took place July 5th.
These soil tests were performed for preliminary construction design of the new Treatment System.
In recent weeks multiple property owners have contacted the City requesting information for and the ability
to connect to the Anderson Erickson septic system. This system with the I/I issue in the Spring melt period
runs near capacity. Allowing additional users or additional flow in the system can or will cause periods where
the system will operate outside the permitted capacity. City Administer Kyle Morell and Public Works will be
discussing the issue at an upcoming Wastewater committee meeting. The discussion will include: adding
additional flow capabilities, testing I/I of the tank seals, testing I/I of the private drain line from the home to
the septic tank, and suspending new connections or home improvements which add additional flow.
New Maintenance Employee
Public Works was approved at the previous Council Work Session to offer the open position starting at Step 4
during the probationary period. The selected candidate has accepted the offer and has provided, an agreed
upon, start date of August 7th, 2023.
Storm Water
In late Spring of this year, Public Works was contacted by a resident in the Wild Rush Acres Development that
a culvert running under the mid-point of the driveway was causing extensive erosion. After inspection by
Public Works the culvert in question was 140ft from the ROW. Typically, the culverts which cross driveways
this far into the property are the responsibility of the property owner or potentially the DNR. After review of
the Development Agreement, it was found that all storm water structures within the development were
agreed to be City owned pubic infrastructure.
Public Works investigated the culvert further and determined at the time of gas and electric connection,
during construction in 2017, the culvert was damage by a vibratory plow. Xcel Energy was contacted and after
a month of discussion an Excel Energy excavation crew exposed the damaged culvert. Public Works initial
determination that the plow damaged the culvert was correct and Xcel agreed to replace the culvert, repair
the driveway and restore the lawn area damaged by the excavation. Fortunately coordination with Xcel, Public
Works and the homeowner went well and did not cause extensive disruption to the property owner.