Lansing City Council approves placement of “No Trespassing” signs at Marina, invites business/property owners to streetscape meeting July 11

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, June 19, the Lansing City Council approved the placement of “No Trespassing” signs at the City Marina, after having reconsidered its decision of last year not to ban fishing from the docks.

Two letters were submitted for the council’s (re)consideration of this question - one from slip-renters, and one from Marina Manager Jason Drape. Both letters described a situation that has grown worse since the request made by the marina board last year to ban fishing in the marina - a request the council voted down at that time because of a concern that local kids continue having a safe place to fish.

Among the points made in one or both of the letters were the following: 1) other city marinas (La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, for example) do not allow fishing; 2) weeds are frequently found on docks, as well as fish blood and crushed nightcrawlers, and fish line has been found in slip-holders’ boat  motors; and 3) suggestions of other options for fishing - outside of the dike at the marina, at the designated fishing dock at the State boat landing on the south edge of town, or on the path that goes down to the river from the Driftless Center. Drape’s letter concluded by asking the council to “please listen to your marina board, marina customers and slip renters. We want to keep these patrons happy and in town as they have a very positive impact on local tourism and the economy.”

LETTER REGARDING JULY 11 STREETSCAPE MEETING
The council approved sending a letter to business/property owners inviting them to a streetscape meeting with Aaron Detter of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, at 6 p.m., at Lansing Office Works. The letter reads, in part, as follows:
“… Last year, the City of Lansing received a grant to contract with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to devise renderings for the Main Street revitalization, which is in preparation for planned construction within the next five years. In collaboration with the Iowa Department of Transportation, Upper Explorerland and the Lansing City Council, we will be working over the next six months to devise a new downtown streetscape. As a valued member of our downtown district, we welcome you to attend this work session led by Aaron Detter (of UERPC). We will discuss strategies and the wants of downtown business and property owners as well as begin the formal stages of collecting community feedback. This is the first in a series of work sessions, with a Lansing community session planned for Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m., at The Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center.”

PLATT STREET PROJECT PROPOSAL ACCEPTED
The council accepted Fehr Graham’s proposal for professional engineering/design services relating to the replacement/upgrade of existing water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer utilities along Platt Street, North Street and 4th Street. When the design process is complete, then the individual portions of the job will be placed up for bid.

The City of Lansing is looking to utilize both a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Iowa Finance Authority State Revolving Fund (SRF) low-interest loan program to fund the Platt Street project. A water and sanitary sewer system Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) is a required document for the application of project funding through these two programs.

According to materials submitted to the council, Fehr Graham “will provide the required PER and complete the necessary design development to prepare plans and bid for the construction of the proposed improvements.” Further, as indicated by these submitted materials: “With the final reports, Fehr Graham will prepare and submit the Intended Use Plan (IUP) application for the proposed 1st Street Water Main improvements for the project to be placed on the IUP for an SRF loan.” The company quoted the following fixed fee for performing the services they outlined in their proposal: Preparation of PER and IUP Applications, $29,500; and Design, Lump Sum of $94,500.

PARKS REPORT
The council approved raising (lifeguard) Nathan Boardman’s hourly wage from $11 to $11.25/hour and raising (softball/baseball coach) Claire Chandler’s hourly wage from $11 to $14/hour. The council also approved hiring Mallory Mohn as assistant pool manager at $13.50/hour and Caidee Lloyd as lifeguard at $11/hour. In other Parks business, the council approved a check for $50 to Clayton Ridge Youth Sports for a baseball tournament entry fee and approved charging non-profits 2022 prices for shelter use ($65 for a full day and $45 for a half day).

WATER OPERATION & MAINTENANCE
In his report to the council, PeopleService Representative Duane Estebo noted that he had mailed the completed Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) May 15, and that he also put a copy in City Hall for the public to view. May 16-17, the hydrants in town were flushed; and May 17, Thornton Manor needed pipe repairs and the department helped them find and shut off their water line supply. As a result of a DNR water supply survey May 22, the department needs to put a screen on the overflow pipe at the Mt. Ida reservoir.

WASTEWATER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
“The first part of May we kept dealing with flood issues,” Estebo’s report  noted. “We were staying on top of the situations at the lift stations and the pumps.” May 3, “the really high flows from the flood were decreasing and we removed the bypassing pumps we had in place.” May 4, Estebo sent the final bypassing report to the DNR. The department also lowered the levels in the lift stations closer to normal. May 9, the department started to decant some of the clear liquid off of the sludge tank. “We had added extra flow water to the sludge tank to compensate for the rising water,” Estebo noted in his report. “We did not want the tank to burst out of the ground.”

OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council approved Resolution No. 990 Walleser Plat. The council also approved Resolution No. 989 setting annual salaries and wages for non-union, union employees, and department heads of the City of Lansing as follows:
Peter Mc Kee - $20.50 increased to $21.53
Darby Stone - $20.50 increased to $21.53
Troy Reihm - $21.34 increased to $22.41
Tara Drape - $16.64 increased to $17.47
Katie Becker - $49,018.11 increased to $51,469.02
Ken Ripp - $49,645.44 increased to $52,624.17
Conrad Rosendahl - $53,690.62 increased to $56,912.06
Mark Rethwisch (seasonal) - $12.00 increased to $15.00
Lawn Mowers (seasonal) - $11.00 increased to $13.50
Snow Blowers (seasonal) - $16.50 increased to $17.50.

The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is scheduled for Monday, July 3, at 7 p.m., at Lansing City Hall. A special meeting to discuss the possibility of hiring a city manager is scheduled for July 24, at 6 p.m. (subject to change), at Lansing City Hall.