COLUMBUS JUNCTION — An engineering services agreement with French-Reneker Associates of Fairfield for the supervision of planned improvements to the Columbus Junction Wastewater Treatment Facility was approved Wednesday by the city council.
Although $75,000 has been allocated for the supervision, project engineer Matt Walker said the engineering firm will be paid on an hourly basis only for the time when its staff is actively involved in monitoring the construction.
Spectra Build of Wapello provided the low bid of $1.5 million on the project, which will include construction of a direct discharge pipe to the Iowa River, a lift station and an UV disinfection station.
In a related action, the city council also held a public hearing on a sewer revenue loan and disbursement agreement.
Mayor Mark Huston said the city is planning to use an Iowa State Revolving Fund loan of up to $1.4 million to help finance the sewer improvement project. A $300,000 Community Development Block Grant award also has been approved for the city.
Walker said Spectra Build is expected to begin working on the project by early July. There are 75 working days established for the project.
In other action, the council set a May 25 public hearing date for a proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget amendment.
According to the notice of public hearing, the proposed amendment includes $338,090 in Total Expenditures/Transfers Out and $512,857 in Total Revenues and Other Sources.
The additional expenditures include higher police department and ambulance costs, street repairs and legal fees related to a sewer line issue. The increased revenue came from local option sales tax, FEMA payment, ambulance service charges, ARP allocation and other income.
The Beginning Fund Balance remains $339,628, while the Ending Balance will climb $174,767 to $533,648.
The council also approved a $103,058 first payment to L.L. Pelling, North Liberty, for street improvements on Oakview Drive and Ridge Road.
Columbus Junction Police Chief Donnie Orr also alerted the council and other officials to the WMT Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade that will stop in Columbus Junction on June 13.
Orr said planners originally had estimated as many as 500 tractors might participate in the drive, but recent estimates have dropped that number to about 400.
“It’s going to be a pretty congested downtown,” Orr predicted.
Councilman Hal Prior also reported on the recent meeting of the Louisa County Ambulance Board. He said finances for the city-operated service are improving, but Medicaid payments still are being withheld from the service because it was still trying to complete all the required processing steps.
He said the service recently was certified by Wellmark, so payments from that insurance provider soon will be received.
In final action, the council approved earmarking $35,000 from the city’s Roundy Fund to help pay for an estimated $70,580 worth of playground equipment for city parks.
Councilman Josh Buckman requested the funds, explaining another $10,000 would come from a wellness grant and the remainder through local fundraising efforts.
Huston said the Roundy Fund now has about $250,000, but $100,000 is committed to trail development between Columbus Junction and Columbus City, with other money slated to be used on upcoming repair work to the Columbus Community Heritage Center Museum.