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09.e Public Works Staff Report Staff Report Date of Meeting: 4/15/2025 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report Roads/ ROW Public Works staff wrapped up tree trimming by the end of March. The final stretch of roadway trimmed was Kirk Ave west of Manning between 230th and 220th St. Public Works will continue to monitor Ash trees and other hazard trees within the ROW and complete removals throughout the year. Although we have had two light snow seasons back-to-back the extended sub-zero nights this year drove the frost deep beneath the roadways. During the thaw cycle this spring, areas of roadways already in sub-par conditions have been considerably affected due to the long thaw cycle. Areas which had already displayed allegator cracking are now beginning to sink and road base material has began pushing out to the sides of the road. Some of these road sections are within the current five-year cycle to be reconstructed, but others are not and additional major patch work will need to be completed to continue safe passage of vehicles. Public Works will be finalizing a list this month of areas which require patching, but will not complete work in these areas until CIP Committee meetings have determined which roads will fall into the five-year cycle for road reconstruction. Parks Public Works staff completed tree trimming at the Wayne Erickson and T-ball fields. After many years of unattended growth, the trees outside of the play area had stretched over the fences or play areas affecting the use of the fields. Trees were cut back to a point outside of the play area and should only require routine pruning moving forward. The tennis/pickleball court project is scheduled to be substantially completed by the end of May. Punchlist items to complete are likely to run into the month of June. Opening the courts will take place when deemed ready for play by the City Engineer and Public Works. No specific date has been set at this time. Tree planting in the parks will take place around the City Hall parking lot this year to replace the infested ash trees which had been removed over the winter. Quantity and type are still being determined based on cost and available space. There will likely not be a one-one replacement but a healthy number of trees will be planted. Sewer The MPCA has added additional monitoring and restrictions to the permit associated with the Bliss Collector system. PFAS has been an ongoing issue in the east metro and Scandia is now falling into the area requiring additional monitoring, not only for wastewater but groundwater as well. The additional monitoring and restrictions relate to the land application of biosolids from the tank pumping process. After tanks are pumped the City has two options for disposal; land application or trucking the pumped wastewater and biosolids to the Met plant in St. Paul. The MPCA is now concerned with the amount of PFAS re-entering the ground through wastewater disposal and will be setting limits on land application dependent upon the concentration of PFAS in the wastewater. So far, the City has not tested for PFAS in the wastewater as there has not been a land application completed since the new regulations have gone into effect. As of this time, there is no known sample indicating if there is any concentration of PFAS in the wastewater treated at this facility. Buildings The new cold storage building is scheduled to have the floor and driveway concrete installed after road restrictions are lifted. Public Works will be completing the rough grading in and around the building in the interim. Power and gas have been disconnected from the old cold storage building in preparation for the dismantling process. Public Works will continue to move out items from the old building which can be temporarily stored outside behind the Public Works/Fire Hall building. The majority of the items currently in the building will be moved after the new concrete has cured long enough for safe use of machinery within the new building. The anticipated schedule has the old building ready for dismantle in June. Bone Lake Tree Nursery The tree nursery was successfully moved to the new location west of the Warming House the first week of April. Public Works assisted in removing the pea gravel so that Tom could dismantle and move the framework. Public Works then moved and filled the frame work with the existing gravel. Public Works also discussed the option of having trees planted in the nursery for use in the Parks. Tom indicated there is room for trees in the nursery and to be available for the City to plant this fall. After the bed is planted this spring, we will know the number of potential trees available for fall installation.