Rock Island Today

City of Colona Public Works Committee met June 1.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Call to Order: 5:00 p.m.

Roll Call: Aldermen Swemline, Jones, Feliksiak were present

Staff Present: R. Crew Director of Public Works, Patti King CSFP

Public Present: Jim Dooley, Ron Senteras

Public Comments: Mr. Senteras addressed the committee about a sewer back-up at 506 Green Court in Colona. He would like to have the City help him with replacing carpet in the basement. How does the Council feel about helping him out?

Colona Scott Family Park:

1. The pool will open on June 3, hopefully. The pool will be open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

2. The park has 77 seasonal paid campers.

3. The park was completely full of campers for Memorial Day weekend.

4. The pool filter motor burned out; it has been replaced.

5. A tree limb fell on a truck where a tent had been 2 hours prior.

6. There was a request to have fireworks at the park for the Fourth of July. The committee told them no.

7. People at the park would like to have another aerator at the pond. Some of the campers have offered to contribute half the cost for an aerator if the City would pay the other half. The committee would be willing to pay for half of the cost. Does the council have a problem doing that?

8. The park will not be accepting Good Sam discounts after June 1, 2017.

Public Works:

1. The carnival functions and clean up went well.

2. The City has started spraying for mosquitoes and gnats. We will be doing this twice a week, weather permitting.

3. The booster pump went out on East 1 and 2 well-house. We had to switch to liquid chlorine until pump was fixed. It has been repaired.

4. The floor at the activity center needs to be replaced. Rick Crew informed the committee that we have actually had potential renters not reserve the center because of the condition of the floor. If the City replaces the floor the cost would be $2,500; a contractor would cost up to $10,000 depending on what we want.

5. Contractor, Andrew Love, who offered $500 for purchase of 509-5th Street is willing to wait until the back tax situation is resolved.

6. The Spring clean-up was very expensive. The cost to the City will be approximately $5,000 for clean-up plus $2205.08 for dumpster cost.

7. The committee discussed operating costs of operating the senior and activity centers. The cost of utilities is $11,400 per year; $500 a month for labor (lawn mowing, snow plowing); $100 a month for miscellaneous items. The committee discussed having a lease and contract with the food pantry and also go to the township and request more than $200 per month for utilities.

8. Rick Crew advised the committee it would not be a good idea to short the public works department seasonal employees next year. It has really created problems with getting things done.

9. The new gang deck motor is here and working well. Public works will be out cleaning ditches, sealing cracks in the streets, and fixing storm drains.

10. The new water meters are in and we will be scheduling the replacements soon. This is the second half of phase 1.

11. The EPA will be in the City to inspect our wells and paper work on June 12, 2017.

12. Rick Crew reported that there is an issue with a fence in the front yard at 804-7th Street. His front fence is 6 feet and the ordinance says a front yard fence can only be 42” high. Rick advised the resident that he could request a variance from the zoning board but he did not know if it would be granted. The resident started the work without a permit.

13. The City is still working on getting an easement at 206 Briargate so we can pave it; however, we would not own it.

14. Rick Crew has discussed paving our streets with Henry County. They will be putting this on their schedule.

Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.

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