09.d PW August Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 8/17/2021
To: City Council
From: Charles Fischer
Re: Public Works
Roads and ROW:
Public Works Staff have continued ditch mowing in the Northwest portion of the City. It has
been a slow process with the amount of vegetative growth due to the inability to mow this area
in the early part of the season.
Public Works has been in discussion with Washington County and Valley Paving over the
responsibility to repair the City street light system on the East side of Olinda Trail and North of
Scandia Trail. An agreement has been met to share the cost among the three entities for the
repair with Valley Paving paying a higher amount than Washington County and the City.
Washington County has also agreed to GPS the entire system on Olinda Trail and Oakhill which
we can then enter into our GIS database for future use.
Public Works has completed a City wide inspection of street signs and ID’s for needed updating
or damage. Currently we have a large number of street ID’s that have been in storage which
need to be installed along with over 30 sign posts which need upgrade or replacement.
Sewer and Water:
Public Works conducted an infiltration test in the EQ tank in the Uptown collection system.
Smilies Sewer Service conducted a camera test of the tank and determined no infiltration was
occurring. Jake Humburg, a Bolton & Menk Engineer, was on site during the test and
discussions of how we conduct inflow/Infiltration monitoring was deliberated. We currently
test inflow by calculating pump run times and average pump output which may not be
sufficient to truly monitor total flow. Public Works is searching for flow meters and cost of
installation for this system to more accurately monitor inflow.
Parks:
Public Works has been assisting the Park and Recreation Committee in the search of Grant
options for the playground installation set for 2022. A site visit was conducted by Minnesota
Wisconsin Playground on 08/11/2021 and options relating to a Grant through MWI will be sent
for the PRC to review.
Public Works staff have cleared the Bone Lake Trail of hazardous deadfall overhanging or near
the trail which had potential to cause harm to the trail users. Also, a section of a large Oak from
our property which fell in the Manning ROW was cleared. The least invasive options were taken
to clear the debris and keep the deadfall onsite to create natural habitat for wildlife in the area.
Public Works staff are working on a two-phase concrete sidewalk project at the warming house.
City staff are to remove the old sidewalk sections, complete, subgrade installation, and follow
up with restoration. A contractor is set to form and pour the sidewalk to ADA specifications
from the parking lot to the back of the Warming house and also from the gravel parking area to
the front door. This will allow handicap access to both the front and back doors of the building.
Equipment:
The Public Works Tractor Flail Mower has experienced more breakdowns in the last two weeks.
Parts cost for repairs finished by Public Works will be over $2000.00 when complete. The ditch
mowing has continued but with only one of the two flail attachments operable at this time.
Public Works has been making progress but efficiency has been greatly impacted.