City Council gets update on new well project

GLENWOOD CITY — The Common Council heard a report about the new well project from Lynn McIntyre of Cedar Corporation and about the grant that the city received to help finance the project.

As part of the Council meeting a public hearing was scheduled to allow citizens a chance for input into the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds being used for the project and to help identify additional community and economic development needs.

McIntyre explained about the present grant and the need to have the well project completed on time. She said the city received some $496,500 in grant funds for the $1.2 million dollar project. “The project needs to be completed before October 1, 2018,” she informed the public hearing. “At present, it is about 40 percent complete,” she said. 

McIntyre indicated that the foundation for the new pump house should be started this week and the building should be framed up before winter. Kevin Oium of Cedar explained work that has been done including the well and replacement of a couple of wastewater lines that had to be redone because they were close to the new well. Oium also presented the city with a pay request from Springlake Contracting, the general contractor on the project for work done to date. The request was the second payment on the project and was for $95,000. 

McIntyre stated that they would be withholding funds from the contractor until all the needed paper work is complete and turned in. Council member Ben DeGross questioned if not the entire request should be withheld and was told that is what is going to happen. McIntyre explain that employment records need to be completed as part of the grant requirements.

McIntyre also noted during the public hearing that the city was eligible to apply for another grant in 2018 and questioned if there were any projects that should be discussed. But, no new projects were mentioned during the public hearing.

Other City Updates

Dean Fayerweather and Brent Standaert addressed the council about Hinman Park new ball fields, with Fayerweather presenting a financial statement to the council of money spent on the project. He noted that some lime needed to be replaced because of it being washed away. They will try to bring a price to the council in the near future.

City Public Works Director Dave Caress gave an update on the retaining wall work on First Street with one section being completed and the second wall being worked on this week. Caress also informed the council that the block pavers along the sidewalk near the Historical building and Methodist Church on Oak Street has been repaired. He noted that the pavers and sidewalk had a trip hazard with the sidewalk about an inch and a half higher than the pavers.

Police Chief Robert Darwin discussed the recent Rustic Lore and the threat the community had received from an out of town resident. That person had threatened gun violence during the annual event and the all school reunion. The chief noted that the suspected was arrested, but then released. “That was the judge’s decision, not mine,” the chief told the council. He also commented about several vehicle break-ins during the event.

Mayor John Larson expressed his thanks to all the people involved in making the annual Rustic Lore Event such a success.

The Council heard from Lions Club members, Tom Stack and Dave Bartz about the club’s project of improvements at the city’s ball field. The club wants to plant a few maple trees, erect a flagpole, install bathroom signs and paint the dugouts. The council approved their request.

The Council heard a report on the local library from Marilyn Blumer, the city Librarian. Her report indicated that the summer reading program had an attendance of 202. “During the summer, the Library also had Rodeo Story time with the rodeo queen contestants when the PRCA Rodeo was in town.”

She also noted that the library had 3,372 patron visits during the three summer months. She also reported that the “Library has been cleaned, painted, organized, and carpeted with finances donated by patrons and the library board and the library staff’s hard work.”

She addressed the council about the city possibly reducing the library’s funding. But later in the meeting the council was discussing a resolution to exempt the city from the County Library Tax. It was learned during this time that by state law the city would have to contribute just over $21,000 to the library fund. But it was noted that the city funded the library with a grant of $25,000 for the current year. None of the city council members mentioned anything about a reduction in funding, but they could not make any comment until they establish next year’s city budget in October.