RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Massive Third Street project set to begin in Riverside

Railroad Park renovations also underway

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 5/8/22

RIVERSIDE

The construction trucks will be rolling into Riverside next Monday.

A major project that will result in the installation of new water mains and the creation of new sidewalks on Third …

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RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Massive Third Street project set to begin in Riverside

Railroad Park renovations also underway

Posted

RIVERSIDE

The construction trucks will be rolling into Riverside on Monday.

A major project that will result in the installation of new water mains and the creation of new sidewalks on Third Street is set to begin May 9 at the same time that renovations at Railroad Park along Highway 22 are going on.

“Ready to rock and roll,” Brian Boelk, Civil Services Manager and principal owner of Iowa City-based Axiom Consultants, told the Riverside City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting May 2.

Some of the trees along Third Street were being removed this week in advance of an elaborate capital project that will create new elevations of the street and sidewalks in order to prevent flooding.

Streb Construction of Iowa City won a $3.3 million contract for the work. The design work was done by Axiom Consultants. In addition to Streb’s construction trucks rolling into town next Monday, MidAmerican Energy will also be working the same day on its gas mains as a part of the project, Boelk said.

Some streets will be closed in Riverside as the project proceeds.

Project organizers are hoping to have the work done by the fall.

City Council members took a walking tour of the area in December.

In the meantime, All American Concrete of West Liberty is finishing up sidewalk work on the Railroad Park project that is expected to be completed in time for a grand re-opening during this year’s Trek Fest weekend in June.

The Railroad Park improvements will include a Star Trek-themed playground area surface and the addition of parking spaces around the park.

Boelk, who presented several project updates and proposals at Monday’s meeting, said the new playground surface may be installed the week of May 16. The soft surface will use Star Trek colors.

Proposed projects include repairing and updating failing structure walls and security issues at the Riverside wastewater plant, and realigning the north end of East Street. The council directed Boelk to produce different options and associated costs for each project. Plan reviews and designs for both projects combined are about $15,000.

The council set a public hearing for its next meeting May 16 to discuss the Fiscal Year 2021-22 spring budget amendment. Total expenditures and transfers out are increasing from $5.7 million to $5.8 million in the amendment, and revenues are increasing from $5.5 million to $5.6 million.

In other action, the council approved:

A payment of $242,550.93 to All American Concrete for work at Railroad Park.

A 60-month agreement with Iowa-based Access Systems to lease a Sharp MX-5071 copier.

Job description updates for the city administrator and city clerk positions.

A number of changes to City Council rules.

The council voted 5-0 to move ahead on a plan to pursue a 28E sharing agreement with the City of Kalona. The agreement would give Riverside the ability to use a City of Kalona employee for building permits and inspections, and nuisance report issues. Council Person Edgar McGuire proposed a 70-30 agreement in which Kalona would have the employee 70 percent of the time, and Riverside the other 30 percent. Under that ratio, the City of Riverside would cover 30 percent of the employee’s salary.

Council Person Kevin Kiene suggested that 28E agreements could be pursued with some of Riverside’s other needs.

In his closing comments, Council Person Kevin Mills proposed that the council talk about the possibility of senior meals being offered in Riverside.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council will be May 16 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Riverside, Third Street, Railroad Park, Axiom Consultants