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09.e Public Works-Staff Report Staff Report Date of Meeting: 7/15/2025 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report Roads/ ROW Wood chips continue to be collected from the Free Pile on a regular basis with an average of three tandem loads delivered every Friday for free pick up. PW has continued dead tree removals along the ditch lines; the trees are mixed species and not just ash trees. Due to the overgrowth of trees in the ditch the weaker trees are succumbing to the conditions and dying off naturally versus insect or pathogen pressures. The ash trees although continue to succumb to the pressure of the ash borer beetle and will be an issue for the foreseeable future. Public Works has observed a large number of ash trees just outside of the regularly maintained ditch line and homeowners will need to address these trees. Public Works staff have transitioned to brush removal, clearing woody vegetation which hinders ditch capacity, storm water flow, road use safety, and removal of noxious weeds. Recent rain events have caused multiple trees to fall in the ditch or roadway and staff have clearing these trees this month. Parks Our seasonal staff member has been continuously busy mowing City properties and maintaining the Wayne Erickson ballfield which has a higher number of rentals compared to past years. Staff have removed the plantings around the Wayne Erickson Park sign and Lilleskogen infiltration garden. Both of these gardens have been taken over by invasive plant species and full eradication by other means was impossible as the invasive plants had intermixed within the good plants. The Wayne Erickson sign is now only surrounded by mulch so that staff can continue to spray the invasive plants as they continue to emerge. The Lilleskogen infiltration area has been planted with turf type seed and will take on a lawn appearance in front of the park. This will allow staff to mow regularly and eradicate the weeds by scheduled mowing. Public Works is continuing to work with Xcel to move the power from the old cold storage building to a new meter location in the turf area adjacent to the parking lot. Final location and plans will be evaluated upon completion of the dismantle of the old building. The goal is to have this installation complete by Taco Daze. Sewer A resident on Larkspur Ave contacted Public Works requesting a site visit to evaluate the possibility of connecting the property to the Bliss system. After on-site inspection by both Public Works and a septic installer it was recommended the property owner contact a certified septic designer to generate potential options between replacing the existing septic system and connecting the property. Due to the configuration of the property and Staff Report Date of Meeting: 7/15/2025 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report distance from the closest connection point of the City system in the ROW, it is likely the property owner will incur less expense replacing the current on-site system within the property.