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09.d Staff Report-PW Staff Report Date of Meeting: 1/18/2022 For: Honorable Mayor and Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: Public Works Staff Report Roads and ROW: Public Works staff have been busy clearing snow from recent snow events and repairing plow equipment. No major repairs have been required and staff are doing an excellent job perfoming routine maintenance and cleaning plow equipment. The two seasonal plow drivers have been available for each significant snow event and have also performed well in the field. Due to staff availability the Public Works Director has filled in for one of the mainline plow routes during each snow event. The issue has now been resolved and all Full-Time staff will be available for each of their respective mainline plow routes. To date Public Works has only responded to two plowing errors reported from residents which were related to a cul-de-sac and bus turnaround. We have received multiple 1” to 3” snow events with dramatic drops in temperature causing difficulty removing compacted snow on the roads surface. The recent warm weather improved roads with compacted snow. Minor fallen trees in the ROW have been cleared as well and we have not experienced any major downed trees so far this winter season. Our brush pile from ROW clearing was burned on Wednesday January 12th making room for more ROW brush clearing for later winter and early spring. A private well installation on Lamar Ave caused sediment issues with a neighboring private well. McCollough Well Drilling purged the neighboring well over the weekend of January 7th – 9th. With the water running continuously, for roughly 72 hours, through the backyard and down into the ditch to Langley. All of this water caused erosion in private property and flooded the ditch on Langley. Along with flooding the ditch, the eroded sediment also filled the ditch and ran onto the road surface. McCollough sent out two hydro excavators to remove the sediment. Further repair to the ditch will take place in the Spring when full extent of the damage can be seen. Sewer and Water: Upgrades to the Bliss system approved in 2021 have not been completed as product availability has prevented installation. The installation of the two lift station pumps and three flow monitors will likely be completed in February according to the contractor’s anticipated delivery of required equipment. Parks: The ice at Wojtowicz Ice Rink has been in great shape so far this season. Other than the 40- degree day last week we have been able to resurface every day. Public Works staff is also utilizing the Zamboni to flood and build smooth thin layers of ice by applying water but not using the cutting blade. Thin coats of water are necessary for good quality ice. To much water in one application causes air bubbles and uneven ice layers. The City has not received any applications for a Zamboni driver this season. With an estimated 5-7 weekends left in the season, Full-Time staff have been and will continue to work on the weekends, in the morning. The current resurfacing schedule is Monday-Friday between 7am- 10am and again between 2pm-3:15. Weekend resurfacing is completed before the opening of the warming house. Zamboni flooding will be completed Monday – Friday after the first resurfacing when temperature allow. Public Works staff have installed the banners for Vinterfest and will continue to prepare for the event each week. With the Parks general fund Public Works has purchased two firepits for the Vinterlights event and Vinterfest. This will eliminate the need to borrow firepits from residents and save staff time picking them up and returning them. City Buildings: Water heater replacement has been scheduled with Dads Plumbing for both water heaters in the Community Center. We should see a respectable energy savings after the water heaters are operational. The freezer in the Community Center kitchen has been replaced with a new similar size. The old freezer was failing to keep a consistent temperature to maintain frozen food. New tables we put together by Public Works staff in the Council Chamber. These tables are collapsible and on wheels for ease of use for different meeting types. Midco Project Testing: Connected Nation completed the testing of the recent Broadband project off of 209th and Quality Trail. After speaking with John Determann, of Connected Nation, he mentioned the testing went very well, Midco was helpful through the process, and that the speeds came out very well. An official report will be sent to the City when it is complete.