Published: May 22, 2008 01:35 pm            

Camanche Council discusses city Web site

CAMANCHE — The Camanche City Council is discussing starting up a city Web site.

At the council meeting held Tuesday night, City Administrator Tom Roth noted the council briefly discussed having a city Web site at the May 13 council meeting. He said he contacted the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and was advised that the person who manages their Web site lives in Camanche. Roth said he contacted the individual and she would be meeting with him to discuss the costs and effort involved. He said he also spoke with Connor Anderson of Effective Networking, who reportedly advised it could cost from $2,500 to $5,000 to set up a Web site and a program typically is available to perform updates to the site.

Councilman Trevor Willis said he spoke with an individual who advised the person could set up the Web site for approximately $1,000, and it would cost the city approximately $300 per year to host the site. He said the city likely would want a simple Web site and Roth agreed the site would include the “basics.” Roth said more information about the potential city Web site would be available at the next council meeting on June 3.

The council discussed options regarding the memorial tank in Central Park. Roth said he spoke with a U.S. Army representative, who said the tank lease is listed under the VFW and the government would need a letter from the VFW requesting to relinquish the tank. Roth said the Army rep said the government has approximately 500 parties on a waiting list looking for a tank and if the city gives the tank up, parties on the list would be contacted to see if they want to adopt the tank and pay for it to be moved. Roth said the individual advised there is no military standard for painting the tank, but asked that the city not repaint the tank some “oddball” color.

Roth said the decision of what to do with the tank is that of the city council, but noted Public Works Director Dave Rickertsen issued concerns about the rehabilitation being temporary. He added that it would be a “big undertaking” to refurbish the tank and council member Linda Kramer said the tank “desperately needs painting.”

Council member Ron Wehde said the tank is the city’s responsibility and if the decision is made to move the tank, the city would have to ask the VFW to write a letter requesting to relinquish ownership of the tank. Council member Ken Fahlbeck said the VFW doesn’t have the funding to paint the tank and Camanche businessman Tom Determann suggested the VFW could apply for a gaming grant to pay for the project.

Councilman Paul Varner issued a concern about the tank being in disrepair and posing a danger to those who play on or around the tank. Roth said the Army representative suggested erecting a fence around the tank. Mayor Jim Robertson commented that he thinks a fence should be installed if the tank is to remain in Central Park. Willis said he thinks a fence would not improve the appearance of the tank in the park. Roth said he thinks a more appropriate memorial could be constructed and Willis and Kramer agreed. Varner stated that a more detailed and explanatory memorial would be better, much like the Clinton veterans’ memorial.

Robertson said the city needs cost estimates for what to do with the tank, either moving it or painting it. Rickertsen suggested the city contact a bridge painting contractor for a price quote. Kramer suggested the city also obtain a quote on an alternate memorial for comparison, aside from the painting and fence installation option. City Attorney Tom Lonergan said the main question is whether the city wants to keep the tank or have it removed. Fahlbeck said the next step in the process is to ask the VFW if they will write a letter to relinquish the tank. Willis stated the city should get rid of the tank while it may be in demand from other places.

The council approved a motion authorizing Roth to contact the VFW and see if the organization would write a letter of remission.

City Engineer Dan Solchenberger offered the council a Public Works project summary. He said that he found out earlier in the day another flow analysis is required by the Iowa Department of Transportation due to upgrades on the project to a new bridge standard. The analysis would verify the bridge would not have an impact on the 100-year flood elevation along Rock Creek. Solchenberger said the project is being completed with an 80-20 grant, in which the state of Iowa pays 80 percent of project costs, and estimated a second flow analysis would cost $500 to $800.

He added that the DOT is advising the project is scheduled for a July bid letting, with construction anticipated to begin in August.

Regarding the regional waste water treatment plant, Solchenberger stated that he, Roth and Rickertsen have been participating in bi-weekly conference calls with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, representatives of the city of Clinton, the Iowa Department of Economic Development and the East Central Intergovernmental Association. He said the calls are held to discuss progress on the project and keep everyone informed of issues related to the plant. Solchenberger said the project is moving forward, with bid opening scheduled for August or September, but said he would keep the council advised as the project moves forward.

Solchenberger said thank you letters are ready for review by the council and will be sent to Congressmen and Senators regarding their consideration of the Washington Boulevard project during the Washington, D.C., trip earlier this month.

He noted there has been no movement on the Mississippi River Trail project since March.

He said he believes the city of Clinton has received a proposal from Stanley Consultants to get the project moving and noted he thinks the funding has to be spent by the end of 2009 or 2010, but would doublecheck and report back to the council.

        

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