RIVERSIDE

Captain Kirk is going west.

Even if by just a few feet.

Extending an ongoing drama with a project that began last year with construction of an ADA ramp at the James T. Kirk birthplace monument in downtown Riverside, City Council members agreed on moving ahead with a change that will place the actual monument on the west side of a small area located adjacent to City Hall.

The monument is now located on the north side of the display area, facing south, but the entire area leading up from a Greene Street sidewalk is sloped upward, including the landing area in front of the monument.

The City Council has spent thousands of dollars on the project.

“I could live with the slope of the ramp if it was flat when you get up there,” Council Person Lois Schneider said during Monday’s regularly scheduled Council meeting.

“We didn’t get what we were asking for,” Council Person Kevin Mills said.

Design engineers from Iowa City-based Axiom Consultants produced a pair of amended designs for Monday’s meeting, during which City Council members selected a version that would place the monument at the west side of the viewing area, facing east, with a flattened viewing area directly in front of the monument. The new ramp already has handrails installed on both sides.

The birthplace marker will be more easily seen from Greene Street once it is relocated.

Council members also discussed leaving open a pathway to the viewing area from a back side that connects to a coffee shop on Main Street.

Axiom is being directed to come up with cost estimates for the revised project.

Debbins Proposal

Council members agreed to move forward on a $4,000 purchasing proposal made by David and Lisa Brown of Iowa City for the Debbins Building property on West First Street.

Brown intends to use the bottom level of the property for a warehouse and storage, and the upper portion for commercial tenants. The proposal calls for $40,000 in improvements and repairs.

City Administrator Cole Smith will work with Brown on a legal purchasing agreement.

Brown is a general contractor and has worked on building renovations in a number of cities, including Wellman, Riverside and Lone Tree.

Council members Lois Schneider and Tom Sexton questioned whether the discussion should come in a closed session, but Mayor Allen Schneider said there was no requirement calling for a closed meeting.

Pay Raises

Following a closed session at its June 17 meeting, the Council approved a number of pay increases for city staff, effective with the beginning of the new fiscal year July 1.

City Administrator Cole Smith, per contract, has an annual salary of $84,000.

Hourly wages for Fiscal Year 2025 include: Becky LaRoche, $27.01; Bryan Lenz, $25.91; Logan Michel, $24.25; Don Mullinnix, $18.00; Deb Chalupa, $17.16.

Council Action

The Council approved the replacement of a light pole at a lift station.

The Council approved setting up an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the city’s UV system.

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