09.e PW - Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 10/17/2023
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: PW - Staff Report
Roads/ROW
Public Works has continued ROW mowing over the past month. It has been a slow process due to the
excessive growth in the ROW. Staff are working hard to limit damage to the equipment while performing this
task, but additional preventative maintenance and repairs have been required to maintain the mowing
equipment. Following the double pass mowing additional volunteer trees will be removed which the
equipment is unable to cut.
Fallen tree removals have continued although we have had no significant storms, but a high amount of rainfall
and typical windy fall days. Trees which have grown at angles over the roadway continue to fall due to the
growth habit caused by trees reaching for sunlight over the roadway. As the trees continue to reach for
sunlight, excessive growth on a single side of the tree is produced and generates an unstable growth habit
pulling the tree down as it grows heavier. Most of the trees that have fallen recently come from private
property. Staff have been clearing the trees back to the ROW line whether in dedicated or prescriptive areas.
The time staff have spent removing the fallen trees has limited staff time continuing normal maintenance
practices throughout the City.
Final road patching and pothole filling will begin this month prior to the winter season. Last years winter
played a toll on our road system and typically at this time of year all potholes have been patched.
The City will again be utilizing the County for street sweeping of selected areas throughout the City. Public
Works staff will assist by hauling the removed material from the location of the sweeping equipment to the
Public Works Facility. Additional sweeping will take place this year with the assistance of funding from the
Watershed district. Two additional days one week apart will be added to the fall sweeping program on roads
located near lakes and streams.
Parks
Hockey Rink Boards:
The rink board system has been delivered; the dasher boards were delivered to Arena Warehouse where the
new paneling is being installed and the glass sections have been delivered to the City. Upon completion of the
new panel installation at Arena Warehouse, the boards and glass will be delivered and installed at the rink.
Sewer
Septic pump repairs or replacements have continued over the last month. Each system has had its own
nuisances, which Public Works has been able to remedy or have repaired in a timely manner. Some repairs
have been simple float adjustments which have caused high level alarms or pumps from cycling outside of
normal operation.
Equipment
Prior to the seasonal crossover to winter use of equipment, Public Works has been completing preventative
maintenance. During the preventative maintenance services other damages or malfunctions have been
discovered and repaired at Public Works or outsourced through a local business. All winter use equipment is
schedule to be ready for service by the end of the month.
Winter Staffing
The City has advertised for multiple winter seasonal positions since the end of September. Public Works is still
in need of a On Call Plow Operator to clear snow from parking lots, cul de sacs, and dead ends. The City will
continue to advertise until the position is filled.