RIVERSIDE

The first phase of work at the Riverside Boat Ramp is crashing into a rocky finish.

The rocks are just too big.

City Council members Kevin Mills and Tom Sexton said the rocks are so large that the conditions could lead to an injury if somebody falls, and they both voted against a payment approval for the work during Monday night’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Riverside City Council.

“If I had known this was going to be what we got, I would not have asked for the larger rock,” Mills said.

“We didn’t want anything bigger than eight inches; we got boulder,” Sexton said.

City Council members Lois Schneider, Kevin Kiene and Ryan Rogerson voted to approve the payment of $12,477 to Bowker Pinnacle Mechanical of Cedar Rapids for the placement of Class E rock, or revetment, along both sides of the boat ramp area south of Hall Park at the English River.

Class E revetment is commonly used along riverbanks and streams, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Brian Boelk, an engineer with Axiom Consultants of Iowa City, said the Class E revetment was chosen due to feedback and discussion at an earlier City Council meeting.

“I’m not sure what we do from here out,” Mills said.

Mayor Allen Schneider said the Council needed to trust contractors with the work “unless we want do projects ourselves, which I don’t think we do.”

The placing of rocks was part of Phase I improvements at the boat ramp, a project that also included the removal of brush and installing signage.

“They’re still going to be criticizing the project,” Sexton said of Riverside residents. “I’m not happy with it at all.”

An additional resolution that called for the acceptance of the final project was tabled.

Park Master Plan

City Council members discussed a Hall Park master plan, which includes the installation of pickleball courts with lighting, a bigger basketball court and parking improvements.

There is no set timeline on the Hall Park project, but City Administrator Cole Smith told the Council that the work fits into the city’s capital improvement plan over the next two to three years.

Cherry Lane Extension

A proposed extension of Cherry Lane, just south of Highland Elementary School, would likely be constructed in summer 2025.

Highland Community Schools officials would prefer one-way roadways in and out of the school’s parking lot. Motorists often use the school parking lot as a pathway from Schnoebelen Street to neighborhoods located west of the school.

The extension of Cherry Lane would create an east-west lane between Kleopfer Avenue and Schnoebelen Street.

Sexton suggested adding speed bumps to slow down traffic.

English Watershed

The Council tabled a request from Ryan Schlabaugh, Chair of the English River Watershed, for funding of $7,500.

City Council member Ryan Rogerson recommended the request be tabled until more information is available.

According to Schlabaugh’s request, the funds would help the English River Watershed with water quality testing, grant writing, staff hiring and flood modeling assistance.

Council Action

The Council approved a perpetual buried cable easement agreement with Interstate Power and Light Company.

The Council tabled a proposal to purchase a new truck and snow plow.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. August 19. A work session is planned for August 12.