RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Riverside Third Street project runs into delays

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 5/20/22

RIVERSIDE

The scheduled work on Riverside’s extensive Third Street project has been slowed due to a delay on preliminary work needed to be done on gas lines by MidAmerican Energy.

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RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Riverside Third Street project runs into delays

Posted

RIVERSIDE

The scheduled work on Riverside’s extensive Third Street project has been slowed due to a delay on preliminary work needed to be done on gas lines by MidAmerican Energy.

Brian Boelk, Civil Services Manager and principal owner of Iowa City-based Axiom Consultants, expressed his frustration in an update he gave to the Riverside City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, May 16.

After meetings with MidAmerican that became heated, Boelk said MidAmerican Energy pledged to send double work crews to Riverside this week in order to expedite the work instead of waiting until May 23.

Tree stumps in the front yards of properties lined Third Street earlier this week, marking evidence of  chopped-down trees needed for work that will include the installation of new water mains, and new roads and sidewalks along the project’s route. The tree stumps cannot be removed, officials said, until the gas-line work is completed.

Several roads are already closed in Riverside due to ongoing work and projected work.

Boelk said planning meetings for the project began a year ago. A $3.3 million contract with Streb Construction of Iowa City was approved by the City Council more than a month ago. The plan is to get the project finished by the fall.

While the Third Street project is just beginning, the Railroad Park renovation project is nearing its completion. A new ADA-enhanced swing has been delivered, Boelk said, and the last major piece is the installation of a new playground area surface that will include a Star Trek logo done in Star Trek colors.

The council approved a number of change orders totaling more than $10,000, including additional charges for the color surface and curb work around trees in the park. The playground equipment is scheduled to be powerwashed and cleaned.

“It looks really good,” said Council Person Edgar McGuire.

The council did not take action on a change order that would have awarded All American Concrete with $9,982 to jet-vac the storm sewer at Railroad Park.

Following a public hearing, the council approved a budget amendment for Fiscal Year 2021-22, per Iowa code. Total expenditures and transfers out are increasing from $5.7 million to $5.8 million in the amendment, and revenues are increasing from $5.5 million to $5.6 million.

The council tabled a resolution that would have approved a 28E agreement with the City of Kalona. The sharing agreement, when approved, would result in the City of Riverside using a Kalona city employee as a building inspector and nuisance officer. Riverside would pay for 30% of the employee’s time.

Although the Kalona City Council approved the agreement at its meeting Monday night, the Riverside City Council wanted to wait until the city’s attorney and Council Persons reviewed the final agreement before approving it.

Council Person Kevin Mills wondered if the proposed five-year agreement is too long of an initial contract. McGuire wanted to make sure there was a viable exit option once the agreement is signed.

The council scheduled a work session for 6 p.m. May 23. A number of city ordinances and codes will be discussed.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council will be June 6 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Riverside, City Council, Axiom Consultants, MidAmerican Energy, Railroad Park