RIVERSIDE

When work begins on the Cherry Lane extension next summer, it is not expected to include a conventional four-way intersection with Kloepfer Avenue, near Highland Elementary School.

The Riverside City Council voted, 3-2, Monday night against attempting to re-negotiate the asking price of an adjacent property located south of Highland Elementary.

The result will be an intersection that will be offset, meaning the existing Cherry Lane won’t line up exactly with Cherry Lane Extension. In order to avoid an offset intersection, a piece of property would have to be purchased to create a linear east-west Cherry Lane Extension.

City Council member Lois Schneider stressed that safety should be a priority since it is just south of Highland Elementary.

The addition of Cherry Lane Extension is expected to improve traffic flow south of the school.

Council member Ryan Rogerson made a motion to pursue another negotiation to purchase the property, and Schneider seconded the motion. However, it failed to pass on a 2-3 vote, with Council members Kevin Mills, Kevin Kiene and Tom Sexton opposing a re-negotiation.

Mayor Allen Schneider, who stated he was in favor of a squared-off intersection with a four-way stop, does not have a vote.

Axiom Consultants, an Iowa City-based engineering firm, is finalizing designs for the road project, which will not begin until next summer after the completion of the 2024-25 school year.

Speed bumps are already in place on roads leading toward Highland Elementary with a 15 mph speed limit.

Kirk ADA

The City Council passed a resolution to approve design plans provided by Axiom Consultants and begin to obtain bids for revisions to the James T. Kirk Birthplace ADA monument project. The monument is located just south of City Hall.

The Kirk monument, which currently faces south, will be moved west in the landing area and placed to instead face east so that it is facing Greene Street and more easily viewed from the highway.

Mayor Allen Schneider said the city is expecting multiple local bids for the project. Council members agreed local contractors would be a preferred way to get the project completed.

There is also a chance that remaining work at the Kirk Birthplace project could be combined with stairs work to be done on the Third Street project. The timeline for the Third Street work may be delayed until spring, depending on weather conditions, City Administrator Cole Smith said.

Community Center

The City Council will hold a workshop session next Monday for more discussion about a proposed community center in Riverside and also discuss the group’s recent trip to Mount Vernon for a tour of the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center.

“They have a really nice facility,” Mayor Allen Schneider said. “I think it was good for our group to see the possibilities.”

Riverside’s community center would be built on property near Highland Elementary School. A total cost has not been estimated yet, pending designs, but it will be in the millions of dollars.

Halloween Times

Trick or Treat times for Halloween have been set in Riverside.

The times are 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 31.

Council Action

The Council tabled a decision on selecting a vendor for the purchase and installation of membranes at the city’s water treatment plant, pending further bid options.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. November 4.