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The council voted to waive $1,161.72 of the $1,805.72 billed to Creston:Arts for the city to dig out, form and pour concrete at 313. W. Montgomery St. during the regular city council meeting Tuesday via Zoom electronic meeting platform.
All city council members were present for the meeting, with the exception of Brian Davis for portions where his connection was lost.
City Administrator Mike Taylor said it is customary for the city to help businesses that are working to beautify the uptown area. Usually, the business pays the cost of the concrete and the city donates the labor.
“They’re kind of working towards the same goal that the city is working towards fixing things up, especially with this building that was going downhill pretty bad.,” Mayor Gabe Carroll said. “I wouldn’t have a problem forgiving this from the city stand point because is shows we’re working in conjunction with Creston:Arts to make good things happen.”
Carroll also said he would not be opposed to forgiving all except the concrete costs.
Council member Matt Levine questioned where the money to pay for the labor would come from if Creston:Arts is not required to pay for it.
“If we don’t get reimbursed, it’s just out of the ... street department budget,” Taylor said.
Council member Brenda Lyell-Keate moved to waive the bill, but after discussion by the board amended her motion to waive all but the $644 concrete costs. The motion passed unanimously.
Public works building
The Creston Public Works building is over 50 years old and in danger of becoming a safety issue for the workers, Taylor said.
“It’s to the point where it can’t be repaired,” Taylor said. “It’s a steel structure and it will soon become a safety issue.”
Taylor also explained that the equipment used by public works is larger than it was when the current facility was built. Council member Terry Freeman asked Taylor if the facility has problems with flooding when there is a heavy rain or snow melt and if it had storage areas that are not up to code.
The answer to both questions was, “Yes.” There are accessibility issues with the way things are currently stored above the offices.
The city council interviewed the first of four design firms that will vie for the job. Mark Allen and Phil Pratt of Shive-Hattery Architecture & Engineering asked the council about its needs and plans for the new building and then showed examples of buildings they have designed, including a Lake Panorama facility, the Warren County secondary roads maintenance building and the Prairie Meadows maintenance facility.
Allen and Pratt explained some of the options and their cost-effectiveness versus the longevity. Precast concrete would last 80 to 100 years, but it is expensive. Steel panels would be a lower-cost alternative and should last 30 to 40 years.
After a question by Taylor, Pratt spoke of geothermal heating and it’s effectiveness in a building with large bay doors that will be opened and closed throughout the day.
The city council will interview the remaining firms over the next few meetings.
In other city business:
• Creston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Gerharz thanked Carroll for his work in making radio ads to promote the city of Creston. The ads will air after Labor Day.
• a public hearing on a request for an easement by Southern Iowa Residential Facilities to place a parking area in the public right of way at 201 to 203 W. Monroe St. received no written or oral comment. The request was approved unanimously with no discussion from the council.
• a final pay estimate of $6,834.36 was approved for Godberson-Smith Construction for work on the Elm Street and New York Avenue railroad crossing was approved unanimously with no discussion.
• the council approved the purchase of a John Deere mower for the cemetery department for $9,300 unanimously with no discussion.
• a request for a temporary street closing noon to 2 a.m. Sept. 20 on West Union Street from South Elm to South Maple Street for Randy’s Memorial Ride and Street Dance was approved unanimously with no discussion.
• a resolution for a supplemental agreement with Chalhoun-Burns and Associates for the Sycamore Street bridge was approved unanimously.
• a agreement with Murphy Heavy Contracting to replace shoring on the Cedar Street underpass was tabled in order to contact Burlington Northern to see who is responsible for the repairs.