5.b PW Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 11/07/2022
For: PRC
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: Staff Report
Playground Project: New information italicized
The playground footprint was shifted toward the parking lot by 6 feet from the original
intended position. This shift was due to the location of a buried gas line which is located
between the tennis courts and the playground. By shifting the footprint north avoided having
the gas line run underneath the south east corner of the playground.
In the last three weeks Public Works staff have completed the excavation of the new
playground space, sidewalk and seating area. Following the excavation staff installed and
compacted the gravel base for the concrete curbing, sidewalk and seating areas. Monday
October 10th is the scheduled date for the contractor to begin forming out the curb and then
will finish with the seating area and sidewalk. Estimated time to complete the concrete
installation is October 14th. Upon completion of the concrete work the site will rest until Spring
2023.
After the layout was complete it was discovered that the abandoned septic tank which once
served the storage building was too high to properly grade the site. Staff removed the upper
three feet of the tank and foundation walls surrounding the tank. By removing part of this
underground structure, we will be able to gradually slope the site creating a better open space
to serve the events that utilize the area.
Items and contractors currently ordered or lined up for the project are:
• Concrete Contractor Scheduled (Oct 10th 2022)
• Playground Structure and Installation (2023)
• Rubberized Surfacing and Installation (2023)
• Wood Chips and Installation (2023)
• Park Benches ordered (2022 delivery)
• Picnic Tables order (2022 delivery)
• Garbage and Recycling Cans (2022 delivery)
• Grills for picnic area (2022 delivery)
• Erosion control materials (Installed on site)
Items remaining for purchase and installation (2023):
• Drain tile
• Fill soil
• Top soil
• Raingarden Mulch
• Raingarden Landscape plants
• Sod/Seed
• Additional plantings (trees, landscaping plants)
• All concrete work related to the project has been completed. (sidewalk, picnic and bench
pad, and the playground container curb.
• After completion of the concrete work, Public Works staff backfilled the curb to project
the edge over the winter.
• The City was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from Midco for costs associated with the
playground project.
• The benches and tables have been delivered and the waste containers are currently in
shipment to our facility. All items will be stored indoors over the winter and will be
installed after the completion of the playground structure and surfacing.
Rink Preparations:
Over the next month Public Works staff will be prepping the rink to be flooded. Maintenance
includes removing leaves and debris from the hockey rink, sweeping, and washing of the
concrete. The Zamboni is scheduled for service this month as well.
Rink Staffing:
Public Works is still searching for applications for the rink maintenance position. We had one
person interested but no application was submitted. Rink attendant positions will be fully
covered by returning staff and Public Works will be interviewing other applicants to fill an open
position.
Tomteskogen:
Public Works is waiting for interested volunteers to spread woodchips on the trail. Helke’s Tree
Service has offered woodchips for the trail. Delivery of the woodchips will be coordinated once
a volunteer group is scheduled to be on site.
Pickleball/Tennis:
Pickleball remains to be very popular on the courts this late in the season. The nets will remain
out until the weather shifts to a more seasonal pattern. A volunteer has added a practice board
under guidance from Public Works and has been used frequently during busy court sessions.