Loading...
10.e1 PW-Staff-Report Staff Report Date of Meeting: 07/21/2026 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report Roads/ ROW Shouldering work which started this spring is complete, although a few heavy rain events have caused areas to wash and additfonal material was needed. Staff have refilled the shoulder material bins as we used over 200 tons of material to complete our shouldering for the season. Additfonal shouldering will take place this fall and refilling of the bins as well prior to the Osceola Bridge shut down. The material we currently use is from a Quarry in Farmington, WI just south of Osceola. The goal is to not have to replenish the material bins next season, if necessary, material will be sourced elsewhere. ROW mowing has been a slower process this season, due to a late start from being short staffed and also other mechanical malfunctfons. Our target completfon date of the first pass mowing is Aug. 30th. Once the first pass is complete, we will retool the tractor for targetfng overgrown brush within our areas of maintenance adjacent to roadways. Staff spent 5 days clearing dead ash trees and buckthorn along the lower road of 197th street along the St. Croix River. Residents received an email statfng what the intent of the project was and also met with much appreciatfon from the residents adjacent to where staff was working. Some larger mature trees are stfll in need of removal and staff will manage these trees one at a tfme over the remainder of the season. The next area where brush and young trees have migrated to close to the road is north of the Goose Lake landing. Much of the vegetatfon will be cut by staff with the remaining stubble and stumps to be ground by the tractor mulcher. Parks Staff have added fence gates to the dugouts at Wayne Erickson ballfield due the contfnued use of the infield and outiield as a burnout area for an unknown person with a small gas or electric bike. Each week since spring there has been at least one evening where the person has dug long trenches with the rear tfre in the infield or skidded the rear tfre throughout the outiield. Public Works would like to recognize Lakes Free Church student ministries for their effort in helping the City mulch the landscape beds at City Hall and Lilleskogen Park. The 6th-8th grade students worked hard cleaning out the beds and installing new mulch. Public Works staff provided the necessary tools and hauling of materials for the students. Staff Report Date of Meeting: 07/21/2026 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report Sewer Sewer issues were very minimal this past month. The only concern was the contfnued momentary brown outs in early July which caused alarms to signal our staff of the issue. All controls and pumps operated as they should during this tfme and staff cleared the alarms as needed. Water The RPZ connected to the Community Center well is due for a full rebuild. Depending on the cost to rebuild the current RPZ it may be a better optfon to replace with a new RPZ with a model that has more available replacement parts. Equipment Public Works will be submitting a request for approval to purchase new trailers which are due for replacement and within the approved 2026 CIP budget, at the August Council Meetfng. Staff Licensing Multfple staff have been working towards acquiring new licensing or certfficatfons, below is a list of newly acquired licenses by staff: Owen Dylong: Class E Water License Bryan Gravelle: Class E water License Charles Fischer: Class C Wastewater Operator License Owen and Bryan will be going to commercial driving school to acquire their Class A license as early as late August. They have already completed all the necessary steps to sign up for class room and behind the wheel training. Once training is complete, they will take the pre-trip and driving test. All of this training is conducted at the Union Hinkley facility over the course of five days.