RIVERSIDE

Riverside Mayor Allen Schneider emerged from Monday night’s City Council meeting with a smile.

One reason: With back-to-back meetings lasting just an hour, he was able to walk home in time to watch the second half of the University of Iowa women’s basketball NCAA Regional game against LSU. Yes, the Hawkeyes won.

Perhaps even bigger than that, all of the extensive water plant projects in the city are coming to an end. The Council signed off on completion of the wastewater plant work that was done by Spectra Build of Wapello at a cost of more than $350,000. The final act was a payment of $16,884.

Final “punch list” items are underway on a bigger construction project at Riverside’s water treatment plant with a final payment tentatively planned for the council’s next meeting in two weeks.

Brian Boelk, of Iowa City-based Axiom Consultants, told the Council that an improvement project at the Riverside Boat Ramp on the English River is also nearly complete. The Council approved a payment of $87,533 to Bowker Pinnacle Mechnical, of Cedar Rapids, for work completed on the project.

What’s left on the first phase of the boat ramp project, Boelk said, is signage.

The work included removal of some trees and other clearing, and installation of a new storm sewer.

In a non-water project, Boelk said work on the James T. Kirk birthplace’s ADA ramp is beginning this week. All American Concrete of West Liberty, which also did the sidewalk and concrete work at Railroad Park last year, is the project contractor.

Tax/Budget Hearings

The Council began its double sessions Monday with a public hearing and vote on the property tax levy rate for Fiscal Year 2025.

The tax rate will be $7.94 per $1,000 of value. The rate is determined through a number of calculations that include state code and Riverside’s tax base. The rate is a decrease of more than 15 cents from FY24, but City Administrator Cole Smith said some tax bills may still go up because of increased assessments.

Taxable valuations increased from $112.2 million to $116.5 million.

The city’s tax asking increased from $908,909 in FY24 to $925,387 in FY25.

While no city residents attended Monday’s public hearing, they’ll get another chance April 15 when a public hearing is held for the FY25 city budget. Total proposed expenditures are $5.8 million with total revenue at $5.4 million.

Council Action

The Council approved an estimate of $3,384 by Alliant Energy for electrical work at Well #6.

The Council approved a bid of $9,300 by Impact7G, of Johnston, to provide historical architectural services for the Downtown Revitalization Grant from CDBG.

The Council approved the adoption of a purchasing policy.

The Council approved a three-month gap insurance policy with SE Iowa Insurance.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. April 15.