8.f Public Works Staff report - September 2019September 17, 2019
Public Works Staff Report – August 2019
Roads and Right – of – way
Roads:
The gravel roads received their second application of dust control. Due to all the rain it is
difficult to evaluate the control or the effectivity of the applications. Public works added
gravel, graded, and rolled Log House landing twice and 197th once. Both roads will need
further maintenance one more time before winter. ROW mowing will start this week.
Equipment failure held up that start of the fall ROW mowing.
Trees:
Staff addressed 8 fallen trees during windy day events in August. The tree debris from
the tornado and events prior to the tornado was burned. On the city hall grounds there
are two ash trees that have lost their leaves early and seeded heavily and one ash with
crown decline. MDA has been contacted to do checks for EAB. One birch has died on the
city hall grounds and the other is in decline. There are galleries in an open wound in the
birch that is still living. It is a sign of birch bore activity. Both birch trees will be removed
as time allows. The removal of the ash will be deferred until we here further from the MDA.
Culverts - ditches:
Ditching along Oldfield is nearly completed. The exposure of the culverts revealed they
were each half filled with sediment throughout the whole culvert. The culverts are being
jetted and measures are being taken to lower the risk of them being filled with sediment
so quickly. The jetting companies charge a fee for coming out to jet culverts so to be
efficient and effective staff added three additional culverts that had issues in the spring
flooding.
Sewer – Water:
Bliss:
The I & I study continues. There are 59 properties that have not yet been inspected by
September 7, 2019. Staff inspected the dispersal vaults for the laterals of the mound
system where our nitrate values are an issue. Staff found that only three cells were
used regularly. With a total of 10 cells to use of the system could be extended if the
nitrate issues can be resolved. Staff is working to get quotes for valve repairs. The staff
have to manually open and close the valves which feed the sand filter.
AE:
During the last storm that impacted the area there was a power outage. Shortly after the
power outage the valves inside the valve pit at the AE facility started acting up. The
computer system was reading as pumps running when they were manually turned off
and the valves were said to be open but the system could not pump down the tank.
Staff had to contact Similes to manually open the valves for the system. Automatic
system was called to address the computer issues. All efforts to reset the sy stem failed
and the system was run on float back up over the weekend. Staff is getting quotes on
repairs to those valves as well.
Parks:
Lilleskogen:
Story boards have arrived and the bases to mount them on are assembled. Staff will
work with STS and the department to have them install as soon as we can.
WIP:
The security gate for park was stolen. It has been replaced and secured better than the
last gate. A report was filed with the sheriff department. STS crews have added more
steps to the pathway system. This should help direct people in the intended areas to
travel.
SHIP Grant – Cycling Scandia – Warming House:
The new Fit-it-Station and a bike rack are installed at the warming house. The added
key pad and security should enhance the use of the facility.
Other:
➢ PW performed preparations for the annual Taco Daze. Provided a dump truck for
the fire department. Moved bleachers. Cleanup parking and other odd and ends.
➢ Dir. PW participated in NNO and provide a dump truck.