Advertisement

No Main Street construction in McGregor this year

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

McGregor’s extensive Main Street sewer project will not start this year. 

 

“We don’t have funding in place, and we can’t just start without that funding,” said mayor Lyle Troester at the city’s March 17 council meeting. “And you don’t want to do bidding in the summer when everybody is busy.”

 

The project will encompass water and sanitary and storm sewer utility upgrades on Main Street, as well as a complete street restoration, to resolve ground water infiltration and inflow issues that have resulted in sewer backups. At times of high flow, the treatment plant became overloaded, forcing the city to bypass a combination of clear water and waste water directly into the Mississippi River.

 

Last year, the city of McGregor entered into a consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), promising to rectify the issues. One of the requirements includes bidding the project by Jan. 2, 2022 and beginning construction by May 1, 2022. Construction would have to be completed by May 31, 2023.

 

“DNR has said we’re making good progress on it and understands it’s going to take some time with the financing. They are willing to extend the deadline too,” said city administrator Lynette McManus.

 

“This year will hopefully be low water and we won’t have problems,” Troester added.

 

The Main Street project is estimated to cost nearly $8 million, over half of which includes the street restoration. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) originally pledged $1.5 million toward that portion of the work, but efforts from Troester upped the promise an additional $3 million. Unfortunately, that funding doesn’t become official until a meeting in June.

 

“We’ve gotten phone calls and emails that say we have that money set aside, but June is their board meeting and they’ll finalize it and give us the money,” Troester said. “In the meantime, we’re sitting here like we have $1.5 million. We have to play this game because, until you get the check, you just don’t know.”

 

Although exceedingly helpful, Troester and McManus said the additional DOT funding impacts which sources the city will pursue to finance the remaining $3.3 million for the water and sanitary and storm sewer upgrades.

 

With the $1.5 million, the city initially opted to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which offered longer terms and some grant money. Now, with $4.5 million from the DOT, USDA would only offer a loan which may not be worth the life of the infrastructure, McManus explained. Funding through the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) is preferable at this point. There’s no interest on the loan through construction and McGregor qualifies as a disadvantaged community, so could get $1 million of principle forgiveness.

 

“In the long run, it will cost us less,” noted Troester.

 

Now, the city is reaching out to see if it can withdraw from USDA to proceed with SRF funding, but still remain in the USDA queue if the DOT money falls through.

 

“At the end of the day, we’re much better off than we dreamed we’d be, but we’re kind of in limbo right now,” said Troester.

 

Outdoor furnace regulation proposed

The council is considering updating the city code to regulate outdoor furnaces, including how far they must be located from neighboring properties and how tall stacks must rise above building eaves.

 

“We have to be careful on it,” said Troester. “This is natural heat, and someone puts in a wood burner because they’re trying to save money on fuel. On the other hand, it does smell when it’s smoldering and not burning. I’d like to see an option where you’d have to get approval.”

 

“You wouldn’t want to see 50 outside wood stoves in McGregor,” added councilman Jason Echard. “I think it would be nice to have an ordinance so you could regulate it. It can’t be a homemade one. You have to have a manufacturer’s name on it and it has to pass inspection.”

 

An ordinance will be proposed at an upcoming meeting.

 

Budget approved

The council approved the city of McGregor’s fiscal year 2021-2022 budget at the March 17 meeting. The tax levy is $14.079 per $1,000 valuation on regular property.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet