by Mari Radtke
Miriam Martens and Mike Carr, DGR Engineers handling the Primghar Lagoon Project were visitors at the Primghar City Council meeting on February 14. Martens updated Council on the work on Cell #2 for the Primghar expansion. She explained that the contractors are considering cutting part of the dyke, allowing for an improved silt removal process. Currently the silt and sludge are piled in the area of the sewer cells. The piles will be spread in the spring. Cold weather gives better results for removal. They are waiting for cold weather to return to finish. Current planning calls for Cell #1 to be pumped in the spring. A pay request for a chnge order to sludge removal in Cell #1 was approved. About 90% of the sludge is removed from that cell. A disbursement request from State Revolving Fund (SRF) was fulfilled on Friday, Acting City Clerk Jessica Whitney reported.
Mike Carr explained the results of the video work in the sewer line along the Industrial Park. About 750 feet was videoed. Carr estimated 300 feet of the middle of that pipe length was underwater. He went on to explain that about 130 feet from the manhole the cement pipe joint had a gap. The location of the gap lines up with standing black water in the ditch. Carr outlined adding 2 manholes closer to 400 feet apart and closer to existing driveways. Lining the pipe was considered. Typically, according to Carr, pipe lining goes from manhole to manhole or about 400 feet. The current distance is 3 or 4 times that distance. The current structure is too far apart to line the pipe. He said the pipe alignment is good and for council to consider installing the manholes as a summer project.
Darren Bumgarner with Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission (NWIPDC) was present to field any questions about the updated Book of Ordinances during the public hearing. A discussion of an ordinance for trees in the parking was considered. Bumgarner said that was the time to make the change. Without a adopting a tree ordinance at that time, Council would have to use regular procedures to adopt any kind of tree ordinance after Wednesday. Among the discussion to include an ordinance denying planting trees in the Right of Way wsa the costs to the city and residents. Costs include damage to sidewalks, sewer lines and the maintenance. The current ordinance for trees in the ROW imposes some restrictions which Council determined is sufficient for now to control tree planting in ROW at present. The public hearing was the second reading of the Book of Ordinances. It passed and the 3rd reading was waived. Primghar has adopted a new Book of Ordinances.
Bruce Green was appointed as the City Attorney. He expects to serve through the end of the year.
The public hearing for the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget was set for Wednesday March 27, 2024 at City Hall at 5:00pm. A special meeting to do more budget work was set for 4:30pm on Tuesday February 20.
Council approved resolutions for the Primghar Ambulance and Kids Kampus grant applications to O’Brien County Foundation.
Whitney reported that the bank requisitions were done through September 2023. She added that is should get a lot easier after October. Dee Ann Lansink was present. She is assisting with the budget process. They explained they believed that lack of balance originated in July.