COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Dave Waldorf, Alderman Jim Lukosus
OTHER PERSONS PRESENT: Mayor Harl, Gary Bleck, Chris Perra (TEST), Amanda Glover (TEST), Don Kowalczyk (TEST), Mike Perry (Chamlin & Assoc.), Mike Richetta (Chamlin and Assoc.), Police Chief Bernabei, Don Bixby (Chamlin and Assoc.)
MATTERS DISCUSSED:
The minutes for the June 4, 2012 committee meeting were approved.
Mike Perry told the committee that the paperwork for the 12th/13th St. Watermain loop
and the Grant Street watermain project has been sent to the EPA. He has also changed
the paperwork to indicate that Mr. Bleck is now the Superintendent of Public Works.
Mike Richetta said that the Non-MFT work was approximately 95% complete and the
MFT road work still has approximately 7 days of paving left and then they will stripe. It
is projected to come in $20,000 - $30,000 under budget.
A map was passed out showing the homes on Westclox Avenue that have had sewer back
up issues as well as the location of the sewer main and the ravine. A drawing showing
the homeowner vulnerability was also passed out and presented by Don Bixby of
Chamlin and Associates. Chris Perra asked if the sewer was combined in this area and it
is. Mike Perry told the committee that by mid-August the new culverts will be put in
downstream as part of the IKE Grant project, which should minimize flooding in theis
area. Chairman Waldorf asked what Chamlin & Associates recommends. Putting in
sump pumps and closing off floor drains will help to reduce homeowner vulnerability.
Mayor Harl asked if flappers would work and how much they would cost. Chris Perra
said that in order for flappers to work they need to be maintained. Mike Perry suggested
that plumbers be contacted to get a price estimate. Mike Richetta said that when the City
of Ottawa had a similar problem that the City contributed some money to help with the
installation of backflow preventors. Mayor Harl said that the City is years away from
fixing the main sewer line. Alderman Lukosus said that the City should have a meeting
with the homeowners to discuss the proposed solution. Gary Bleck said that he would
contact some plumbers to get estimates to install flappers and/or backflow preventors.
Mayor Harl said that the cost estimates should be collected first then the City can decide
how much it is willing to contribute. He asked that one homeowner be contacted for
access to their basement so a plumber can get a good idea of what the project will entail.
Police Chief Bernabei was asked to join the conversation about how to eliminate the traffic issues at 38th Street and Venture Dr. It was suggested that the left turn be eliminated on the west bound lane which would ultimately require a three way stop at 38th & Peoria Streets. It was suggested that Venture road become a one way street to create a loop-type situation. Police Chief Bernabei said that all the businesses on Venture Road would require signage as to the no left turn and that there are a lot of driveways on that road. It was also suggested that maybe Venture Road be allowed to be two way up until Steak & Shake and then become one way. Mike Richetta suggested adding another turn lane. Everyone agreed that the lights on Route 251 were very long and contributed to the traffic jam. Mayor Harl said that he plans on meeting with IDOT the next day to discuss the situation. Mayor Harl also said that eliminating the left turn on 38th Street would not give easy access to the two banks located on the south side of the street. He planned on talking with one of the banks to get their thoughts on it. Mike Perry suggested that the City’s plan be put together before a discussion took place with IDOT.
Mike Perry said that he is receiving proposals from contractors for the 15th & Putnam
Street Inlets. This will also include inlets at Church and Main Streets. He plans to have
this ready for the next meeting. Mike Richetta said that inlets will help in these areas but
that curbs are also needed.
Chairman Waldorf said that at the Wednesday night council meeting that they would be
going into a closed session to discuss the combined sewer separation in areas 4 & 6.
Mike Perry said that he has received the contracts back from the contractor for the North
Area work. A preconstruction meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held on July 19th
and work is scheduled to begin in August.
Mike Perry said that he received revised plans for the IFiber project. He is still in the
process of reviewing them.
Mike Perry told the committee that he is making progress on the five year capital plan.
He hopes to have a draft for the next committee meeting. He is trying to schedule
projects so that all the road, water main, sewer main, etc. is done at the same time instead
of having the projects completed separately.
Mike Richetta said that resurfacing the 1st ward alley by the Zukowski property would
create more problems. He said that the alley currently slopes into two driveways and that
the only way to properly fix it is to eliminate the bricks. When asked, Gary Bleck said
that the City has never plowed snow there. Mike Richetta said that according to the tax
map, the alley is off the right of way and may not even be the City’s. Mike Perry said
that he would talk to Alderman Radtke at Wednesday night’s meeting. Chairman
Waldorf asked if the alley could be vacated.
Chris Perry gave the committee members copy of the response to the IEPA letter
involving the bypass at CSO 4 & 4A. Due to changes in the rules, the IEPA is required
to create a written CCA stating that the problem was remedied immediately, have the
City sign it stating that the information is correct and then the case will be closed. Mayor
Harl asked if there is still a smell issue in that area. Gary Bleck said that he has not had
any complaints recently and that when he stopped to smell he smelled nothing.
Chris Perra told the committee that the sewer by Maze Nails will eventually need to be
lined or replaced. It has been brought up before and Chamlin’s got estimates for both
lining and replacing. Mayor Harl asked where the rocks were coming from. Chris Perra
said that the bottom of the sewer in areas was missing therefore allowing rocks to enter
the sewer.
Don Kowalczyk told the committee that he had the media sucked out of the softener and
took pictures that he has submitted to contractors to get an estimate to have the media
replaced. He has received two quotes so far and is waiting for a third.
Don Kowalczyk also told the committee that is he waiting for one more quote to have the
ground storage tank repainted. He said that the water treatment plant meter was installed
recently. He also said that with the flow being low this week that he plans on borrowing
the City’s pump so he can install the raw water meter at the wastewater plant.
Chris Perra said that there has been no problem keeping up with the water demand this
summer. The water plant was even able to be shut down for electric department to be
under their peak demand days. Mayor Harl asked if there would be enough water once
Eakas’ expansion goes online. Chris said that the additional water demand would not be
an issue but that an additional softener, additional high service pumps, etc. should be
worked into the long term plan.
Meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
16 comments:
Well it is good to see that such a well researched report on the problem was presented and so many affected businesses were considered. From this meeting to Implementation was how many months... I mean weeks... I mean days?
I did not see this topic listed on the agenda that day. In fact it's unusual for the Chief to attend a Public Works meeting.
Kristy
It is in fact not on the agenda Kristy.
I am doing a foia on any further information, Was the intersection not voted upon by the committee or the city council, it was just done on the order of the Mayor and perhaps with the tacit approval of Waldorf and Lukosus and as the Mayor says on the video, it had the approval of IDOT.
Where is our attorney? Is it his job to say legal or not legal to the council?
Evidently the Mayor has not passed the OMA test?
Act First, Think Later needs to be changed to Illegally Act First, Think Later
What about part 3 in which a resident claimed that he wanted a alley and his Aldermen hasn't done anything about it. He has had the problem since 1993? I think its was in the 2nd Ward?
Lois, what else does the Mayor need? He had the experts, committee and previous plans. Should he check with you? Its easy to always say its illegal, I have seen that term used several times when discussing the Mayor or other previous or current elected officials. The problem is that when you continue to use the term "illegal", nothing ever seems to happen. Were beginning to think that your term "illegal" is nothing more than a fictional writer looking for a best seller.
3:37 PM
Warnings have been given.
3:37
Six dumbest words in the english language are, in order:
"I dare you to sue me."
It is not too late for cooler heads to prevail and changes/compromise reached. Let's hope for that outcome.
12:16 PM
Another Public Works Mtg was held on July 23 and I checked their agenda and there was nothing on the agenda about this intersection listed. The minutes for that mtg will be approved on Aug. 13. Not a good idea to vote on issues which are not listed on the agenda as the Attorney General does not approve of this.
Don"t worry this is Peru!
So I guess my question to Rodney or Sherry is, did either of you know of the plan for the intersection?
Soon the full council will be voting on an ordinance for the Recreation commission which has been discussed and discussed by the Public Property Committee and due to the watchful eye of Ald. Mayszak change had to be made. People were aware that this was taking place if they were watching the agendas for the Public Property and especially if they were reading the blog.
Now we had really major changes made by whom and how much public attention did it get prior to implementation? Until the present agenda which states that tomorrow morning Aug. 13, the Public Works Department will discuss the intersection at 38th and Venture. I have checked agendas for May, June and July for mention of this intersection to be discussed and thee is nothing on these agendas. If a major vote like this was approved and it was never on the agenda, that is a problem and that is why we have all this before us. All of this should have been hashed out prior to one line being drawn and one sign put up at that intersection.
Governance at its worst. And Please notice that only Ald. Mayszak and Perez voted against it because they had no information, all the other 6 fell right in line and approved an ordinance that was not properly vetted by them with prior discussions. Saying we will get used to it is wrong!
Think First and then Act
not
Act First and Think Later
That is what 3 year olds do and I believe that 6 is the age of reasoning.
Anonymous said...
How can it be an alley if you can't drive through it. Seems like the city did a freebie for a city employee and got caught and are now back peddling. And you can guarantee nothing will happen now since crooked Potthoff ( electric stuper-indendant) is contesting it and since he's Harl-O 's individual biggest financial campaign contributer Harl-O ain't gonna go against him. Sure was fun watching Doug get all worked up.
12:10
The first I heard of talks of this intersection was after the change was made. I left on vacation July 18th. Returned on the 23rd to a phone call asking why we changed that intersection. Prior to the 23rd I had no idea discussions were on the table.
Rodney Perez
12:57 What are you talking about. You sound as confused as the guy on the video discussing alleyway with the Mayor and City Attorney. Video will bring out Peru's finest. Can't wait.
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