RIVERSIDE

The planned ADA ramp for the James T. Kirk birthplace monument in downtown Riverside is likely to be completed next spring.

The Riverside City Council accepted a $35,022 construction bid from All American Concrete of West Liberty, but the city is also applying for a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant that would help cover the cost.

The project is being designed by Axiom Consultants, an Iowa City engineering firm.

All American Concrete was awarded the bid by the City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday. The exact timing of work on the project will be determined in conversations between the city and All American.

All American was the only bidder in the second round of bidding, but City Council members agreed to approve the project now instead of waiting for another round of bids in the spring. All American was also heavily involved in the Railroad Park project earlier this year.

The WCRF grant request is for $17,511.

Third Street Project

A handful of resident complaints about steeply-graded yards and concerns of retaining walls and safety rails installed along Third Street will discussed further at the City Council’s next meeting Oct. 2.

The water and sewer main project, which cost more than $3 million, was again a topic of conversation Monday.

Mayor Allen Schneider said the concerns will be addressed, one by one, at the Oct. 2 session.

In addition to installing new water and sewer lines, the project included the lowering of Third Street in some areas to, in part, deal with drainage issues.

Council Person Kevin Mills wondered why not all the decisions during the project itself came to the City Council instead of to city staff members or others during the construction process. Brian Boelk of Axiom Consultants, the designing firm for the project and city engineer, has said the grading of properties located alongside Third Street are within city code and the scope of the project.

“Winter is the worst. How are you going to get from the street to your home?” Mills said.

Council Person Edgar McGuire said a number of meetings were held with homeowners prior to the start of work, as he has maintained at previous City Council sessions.

“I think we did a really good job,” he said. “We talked to every homeowner.”

The Oct. 2 meeting is expected to determine if the City Council will approve more city-paid work to resolve individual situations.

Council Elections

The mayor’s seat and three City Council seats will be up for election in November.

The deadline for election papers is Thursday, Sept. 21.

Schneider told The News he is running for what would be his fifth term as mayor. Also running for re-election are Council members Kevin Kiene, Edgar McGuire and Lois Schneider.

City Council members Kevin Mills and Tom Sexton are in the midst of four-terms that expire in December 2025.

The mayor’s seat is up for election every two years while City Council seats are four-year terms.

In addition to City Council elections, the Nov. 7 ballot will also include elections for five seats on the Highland Community Schools Board.

Council Actions

The Council approved a resolution seeking a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant in the amount of $12,500 to help pay for new extrication tools that would be used by the Riverside Fire Department. The Riverside Emergency Services Association has already committed $12,790.

The Council approved an update to the Fire Department’s stipend policy.

The Council voted to waive a review of a plat request for a property in Washington County that is within the city’s two-mile fringe area.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. Oct. 2.