09.e PW - Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 6/20/2023
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: PW - Staff Report
Roads/ROW
Public Works staff continued shouldering work into the month of June. Recently shouldering activity has
stopped due to a mechanical failure of the dump truck the shouldering machine is attached to. Public Works
has completed shouldering through roughly three-quarters of the City and have applied over 600 tons of new
gravel to support the edge of the roadway.
Currently staff are busy mowing ditches and clearing sight lines at intersections. This is the single pass mowing
season, but we are also utilizing the rotary brush mower on the loader the cut back volunteer trees lower in
the ditch and to clear sight lines. All roads north of Hwy 97 have been completed and over the next two weeks
the roads south will be completed.
Public Works is utilizing Bluhm Construction for the areas mentioned last month w hich required more
extensive road repair and patching. Bluhm has completed 240th St N which required the most repair.
Location: Repair to road / Closest Intersection
1: Ozark Ave / Hwy 97
2: Parrish Road / Hwy 97
3: Ostrum Ave / Oakhill Road
4: Oren Ave / Hwy 97
5: Meadowbrook Ave / Hwy 97
6: 217th St / Manning Ave
7: Morgan Ave / 238th St
8: Morgan Ave / 240th St
9: 240th between Olinda and 95 Multiple locations
10: 197th / Oxboro Ave
Public Works will also be spraying under guardrails and sign posts where the ditch mowing equipment is
unable to clear brush and grass. This application will control woody plants and unwanted vegetation.
Parks
Seasonal Staffing:
Public Works now has two seasonal staff employed for maintaining Parks and City grounds. With the lack of
rain and no mowing necessary our new employee has been assisting with landscaping and trimming. With two
staff working together on the landscapes there will be more noticeable changes taking place.
Playground Project
Public Works has been in discussion with the playground installer and a start date for installation is July 16th.
Sewer
Staff completed septic tank sludge and scum inspections in the Anderson Erickson system. This year just a
handful will need pumping within the system. Inspections in the Bliss system are ongoing, but expect a small
number to be pumped in that system as well. Last year over 25 tanks were pumped in the Bliss system alone.
The pumping over time has become cyclical in nature with high numbers to low numbers every two years.
A new septic connection is anticipated to be completed this year in the Anderson Erickson system. Although
this system is very close to operating at capacity this new connection is not expected to increase the flow over
our permitted average flow. What this connection does cause is an effect to future home reconstruction or
additions which add extra bedrooms or waste water collecting fixtures. Building plans moving forward will
need to be viewed carefully in the Anderson Erickson service area which add potential waste water flow. This
concern has been communicated with the City Administrator and Planner.
Equipment
The new Parks mower has been delivered and in use since early June. All systems have been tested and
adjusted as needed to meet our needs.
Public Works will also be proposing the purchase of a new tandem axle plow truck, currently in the 2023 CIP,
at a future Council meeting. Public Works is waiting for a final quote to be prepared with current market prices
before proceeding with approval. Anticipated cost for the cab/chassis truck and plow equipment is between
325,000 and 350,000.
New Maintenance Employee
Public Works received applications for the open Maintenance Position and has reviewed and chosen four
applicants to be interviewed. The interviews are scheduled for the afternoon of June 26, 2023. The goal is to
bring a recommendation to Council at the July 5th Council Work Session anticipated a start date by end of July..