Balloon Museum Ditch
During the month of July the City experienced two four-inch rains, which are believed to have caused the embankment slide at the National Balloon Museum. The City has been working with Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) mitigation specialists to determine funding sources available to make appropriate repairs to the embankment slide. The City has hired Allender Butzke Engineering at a cost of $7,000 to conduct soil borings and provide an action plan for repairs. It will take approximately two weeks to complete the report. This is an urgent matter and the City will proceed as quickly as possible with the advice of the engineer and FEMA.
Monday, August 25, 2008
West Euclid Paving
Having just seen the Channel 13 video on the West Euclid Paving project and related assessments, it is prudent to clear some misrepresentations that were made.
1. The city is contributing $400,000 to $450,000 to the project that has a direct affect in lowering the assessments. All taxpaying properties are helping pay for this project!
2. The city has placed an assessed value of $25,000 on vacant lots thereby reducing some assessments by $6,250 in addition to the contribution above.
3. The assessments on the Channel 13 story were “total” assessments but did not mention deficiencies. Deficiencies are amounts that reduce the assessment because cities cannot assess for more than 25% of the land/property’s value. Deficiencies then eliminate themselves by 10% per year and are completely gone in 10 years if the property does not develop. Deficiencies on West Euclid range from $6,250 to $12,500 depending on the size of the lot.
4. The size of the assessment is directly related to the size of the lots on West Euclid. Some lots are 200 and 300 foot wide thereby making the assessments much larger than if the lots were a normal 75-foot width.
Elected and appointed officials realize there are large assessments on West Euclid and have worked very hard to reduce them. In fact, the assessments have been reduced to an amount that is less than a normal 25-foot wide street.
Many comments are made on this project that either are untrue, or, do not include all the information.
If you have questions or need information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Having just seen the Channel 13 video on the West Euclid Paving project and related assessments, it is prudent to clear some misrepresentations that were made.
1. The city is contributing $400,000 to $450,000 to the project that has a direct affect in lowering the assessments. All taxpaying properties are helping pay for this project!
2. The city has placed an assessed value of $25,000 on vacant lots thereby reducing some assessments by $6,250 in addition to the contribution above.
3. The assessments on the Channel 13 story were “total” assessments but did not mention deficiencies. Deficiencies are amounts that reduce the assessment because cities cannot assess for more than 25% of the land/property’s value. Deficiencies then eliminate themselves by 10% per year and are completely gone in 10 years if the property does not develop. Deficiencies on West Euclid range from $6,250 to $12,500 depending on the size of the lot.
4. The size of the assessment is directly related to the size of the lots on West Euclid. Some lots are 200 and 300 foot wide thereby making the assessments much larger than if the lots were a normal 75-foot width.
Elected and appointed officials realize there are large assessments on West Euclid and have worked very hard to reduce them. In fact, the assessments have been reduced to an amount that is less than a normal 25-foot wide street.
Many comments are made on this project that either are untrue, or, do not include all the information.
If you have questions or need information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
West Highway 92
IDOT sponsored a meeting on August 19 from 5-7 PM at the Activity Center to provide information about possible improvements to Highway 92 west of Indianola to Interstate 35. Earth Tech, an engineering firm from Waterloo, IA, performed a study/environmental assessment.
In short, the proposed improvements include widening Hwy 92 from “R” Street to R-63 to a minimum of 3 lanes (center turning lane) and potentially up to 5 lanes (center turning lane). From R-63 to Interstate 35 the proposal is an “improved two” which straightens corners, lowers hills, provides turning and passing lanes. Keep in mind this stretch of highway has not been significantly improved since it was built about 1930.
The next step is to convince the IDOT Commission to place the project into its 5-year paving plan which is no easy feat considering the shortage of money and the number of projects. Over the next several months a delegation of city, county and state representatives will attend Commission meetings to make the request.
The study by Earth Tech was funded by a congressional allocation that was made possible by Congressman Latham with assistance from Congressman Boswell. No local funds were used.
IDOT sponsored a meeting on August 19 from 5-7 PM at the Activity Center to provide information about possible improvements to Highway 92 west of Indianola to Interstate 35. Earth Tech, an engineering firm from Waterloo, IA, performed a study/environmental assessment.
In short, the proposed improvements include widening Hwy 92 from “R” Street to R-63 to a minimum of 3 lanes (center turning lane) and potentially up to 5 lanes (center turning lane). From R-63 to Interstate 35 the proposal is an “improved two” which straightens corners, lowers hills, provides turning and passing lanes. Keep in mind this stretch of highway has not been significantly improved since it was built about 1930.
The next step is to convince the IDOT Commission to place the project into its 5-year paving plan which is no easy feat considering the shortage of money and the number of projects. Over the next several months a delegation of city, county and state representatives will attend Commission meetings to make the request.
The study by Earth Tech was funded by a congressional allocation that was made possible by Congressman Latham with assistance from Congressman Boswell. No local funds were used.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
WEST EUCLID PAVING
Progress continues on W Euclid, but, only the section from “U” east to the end of existing paving is paved. Sidewalks, driveway approaches and storm sewer intakes will be paved in the next two weeks along this stretch.
City staff met today with the engineer and school officials to discuss concerns about Wilder School opening on Wednesday the 20th. The plan is for the contractor to pave sidewalks on the south side of Euclid as soon as possible, and, to have school officials and police officers present to direct walking traffic on the 20th. The concern is our young children walking to school (along Euclid) without sidewalks. School officials also plan to give students notice on the 20th for parents to drive children to school if possible until sidewalks are paved.
The contractor plans to pave the remainder of W Euclid in about two weeks.
Progress continues on W Euclid, but, only the section from “U” east to the end of existing paving is paved. Sidewalks, driveway approaches and storm sewer intakes will be paved in the next two weeks along this stretch.
City staff met today with the engineer and school officials to discuss concerns about Wilder School opening on Wednesday the 20th. The plan is for the contractor to pave sidewalks on the south side of Euclid as soon as possible, and, to have school officials and police officers present to direct walking traffic on the 20th. The concern is our young children walking to school (along Euclid) without sidewalks. School officials also plan to give students notice on the 20th for parents to drive children to school if possible until sidewalks are paved.
The contractor plans to pave the remainder of W Euclid in about two weeks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)