Published: November 20, 2008 09:57 am      

Leadership Group in DeWitt gets OK for park, trail improvements

DEWITT — The 2008 Chamber Leadership Group presented a proposal for a class project to the DeWitt City Council on Monday.

Representing the group, Will Eggers said the project is for beautification at Westbrook Park and the Skeffington Memorial Trail. The class requests approval to purchase and install benches and trash cans, dogipots, bike trail signs and a new entrance sign. The old sign would be replaced by a 4-foot-by-7-foot stone facade sign that includes the current “Welcome to DeWitt” sign.

The cost of the project is estimated at $4,600 to $7,600. Fundraising proposals included a trivia night and spaghetti dinner. The council approved the group’s project.

The following resolutions relating to the city’s recent property purchases were approved: the agreement with IIW Engineers and Surveyors of Dubuque for a Phase II environmental site assessment at the Eastern Iowa Light and Power Co. at a cost of $5,250 and an agreement with IIW for a survey and platting of the Moreno property at $9,000.

In addition, the council approved an agreement for the Silver Creek Trail extension project with IIW for further preliminary design work at Westbrook Park. Because of the Moreno property purchase the route has changed and a topographic survey is in order at a cost of $10,500.

A second agreement with Allender Butzke Engineers of Urbandale for soil borings for the bridge for the trail extension was also approved. These are geotechnical exploration services with deep soil borings from two to 50 feet. That work will cost $2,700.

Yet another agreement was approved with Flenker Land Architecture Consultants for wetland delineation for the trail at $5,950. Identifying vegetation and taking soil samples is part of this work which is needed for the proper permits to construct the trail.

A change order for ramps and ramp rails for the downtown streetscape project cost the city an additional $695. This raises the contract price with Tschiggfrie Excavating of Dubuque to $2,154,293.

The council approved the final reading of an ordinance limiting the number of animals in a household to five and the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s provisions for trees.

The council set Dec. 1 for a public hearing on the 2008-2009 budget amendment. The amendment largely reflects the scheduling and progress of capital projects but also includes assorted items.

After a review of bids on compost screeners, the council gave City Administrator Steve Lindner and Public Works Director Matt Proctor permission to choose which of the devices they deemed best. Orbit Screen of Delhi was preferred by those who witnessed a demonstration, partly because the Orbit Screen is one piece.

Resident Bill Turnis asked the council if there was any progress on a railroad quiet zone and asked that the issue not be dropped altogether because the noise was not improving. Though the quiet zone remains on the capital improvement plan, Lindner said the costs were still prohibitive and the city had not found a practical solution to the problem.