Levine appointed to Ward 3

Matt Levine was appointed to the city council to represent Ward 3 during the regular council meeting Tuesday at the Creston Restored Depot.

Levine was chosen over three other applicants for the position: MaKenzi Vonk, Julie Shaffer and Keith Post. Council members Rich Madison and Terry Freeman interviewed the candidates with Mayor Gabe Carroll participating in some of the interviews.

“We had four tremendous candidates who applied for the Ward 3 opening,” Freeman said. “I could have argued as to why any one of them would be a great fit for the council. In the end, Matt stood out by not only sharing common concerns and goals for the city, but brought up issues and concerns not even on the radar yet. That kind of forward thinking made him stand out to me.”

Water treatment plant update

The work on the Creston Water Works treatment plant is approximately 90% finished and is scheduled to be completed in February. Forrest Aldrich of Veenstra & Kimm reported that the sludge in the digester was thicker than anticipated, keeping the city workers from completing their portion of the pumping and requiring water to be added before being pumped. This necessitated a change order costing $15,677.

Madison questioned whether there was something that could be done to keep the sludge problem from happening again. Aldrich said they have made some equipment and operational changes that should help alleviate the problem.

In addition, when the water was drained from the stainless steel baffle in the intermediate clarifier, extensive damage was revealed. A change order to replace the 50-foot diameter baffle added $15,729 to the project.

“We tried to anticipate things as much as we could, but there were surprises as we were going through such as these,” Aldrich said.

Aldrich listed other possible changes to the order that may be uncovered before the project is completed. The differing pressures in two gas lines may require some regulation, which Aldrich said would not be an expensive change — possibly in the “hundreds of dollars, not tens of thousands.”

The crew is still in the process of evaluating the pipes and valves. So far there do not seem to be any problems, but some could be revealed as more of the pipes are cleaned.

A replacement shed may need to be constructed to insulate some outdoor equipment. This was in the original bids for the project but was removed.

Howard Street reconstruction

The council approved Austin Smith of Garden & Associates’ recommendation that the council approve a plan to withhold $10,000 of the $57,880.34 retainage from the final payment to Bluff’s Paving and Utility to lower the water main to the requested five feet depth.

First floor apartments

Madison reported for the committee on storefront apartments with a proposed change to the city ordinance removing the wording allowing first floor apartments with council approval and adding language allowing apartments in the rear 50% with approval.

Public works director Kevin Kruse said this changes the process by requiring a conditional use permit approved by the planning and zoning committee and the city council.

In other council business:

• the council approved the transfer of the cigarette and liquor licenses from Casey’s store No. 3224 to store No. 3852, which is expected to open Jan. 16.

• no public comment was made during the public hearing on amending Ordinance 20-189 raising the rate for waste water to $4.04 per 100 cubic feet.

• an agreement with Iowa Sound was approved for the 2020 Annual Party in the Park.

• the 2021 FAA Federal Airport Improvement Program and application package was approved.