At the April 8 Houston City Council meeting, the council learned that the CIPP (cured in place pipe lining) project on Cedar Street was essentially completed. With CIPP, a lining is inserted into the pipes with resin in it. Some air pressure keeps the lining in place in a layer within the pipe, steam is then pumped in to cure the resin in place. Pictures of the process and a sample of the lining were shared with the council. PWD Randy Thesing shared that he feels the quality of the lining is good and that the lining will last a long, long time.
City engineer Matt Mohs recommended that the city pay $94,716.33 with a $10,000 retainage for some remaining punch list work to be completed by the contractor on the 100 block of Cedar Street.
City Administrator Michelle Quinn asked that the council approve transferring $104,716.33 from the ARPA funds to the sewer fund to cover the CIPP project. $741,03 remained in the general fund to cover the engineering expenses for the project which were previously paid for from the general fund.
Work Day at Mission 66
During the public comment period at the council meeting, Mary Dahle addressed the council to check in on plans for adding mulch at Mission 66 Playground. A work day will be held May 8 beginning at 9 a.m.; the group will first blow leaves off the playground which will be hauled away by city workers. Dahle has coordinated with the school for 20 to 25 students to help for an hour and a half beginning at 1 p.m. So far the group has 10 wheelbarrows available; more wheelbarrows as well as shovels and garden rakes are needed. Dahle suggested that people could drop off tools at her home at 302 South Grant; more volunteer help is needed also. She encouraged the citizens of Houston to come out and help complete the project.
The council and city employees will take care of procuring cow mats to go under the swings before the new mulch is added; the mats, which will have drainage holes drilled in them, will help the mulching last longer. The city has already called for quotes on wheelchair certified mulch and will be ordering a semi load of mulch. There is still sufficient funding from Mission 66 to cover the expense.
Officer DeBoer
Police Chief Brett Hurley informed the council that Officer DeBoer had a successful one-year review and asked that the council remove DeBoer’s probationary status. Both Hurley and the council have been impressed with DeBoer’s work this year.
Officer DeBoer explained “The Lights On” program for which he has applied. If accepted into the program, the city officers would give out vouchers to citizens stopped for equipment violations such as a bad headlight or taillight rather than tickets. The citizens would then be able to take the vouchers to participating auto repair shops to have them repair the car at no expense.
The program is run by a non-profit group; no tax dollars would be spent on this. A shop in Houston already accepts the vouchers. DeBoer stated that he is currently on a waitlist for the program. Hurley commented, “The goal is to make a safer road.”
Other Business
In other business, the council:
- Accepted the low bid of $57,165 from Scott Construction for seal coating city streets; funding was in the budget for $40,000, and another $22,000 is available in the city’s 403 infrastructure account to cover the cost;
- Appointed Steve Westby to represent the council at future meetings about the CSAH 13/ 2025 Street and Utility Improvements;
- Approved a request by Michelle Quin to attend the League of Minnesota Cities conference “Building a Better City” in Rochester June 26-28; Quinn is looking forward to networking with other city administrators;
- Approved a request from DLC for a gambling exemption for an event to be held at JT’s Corner;
- Accepted the donation of a maple tree from Karen Todd to be planted in the city park and approved the purchase of three or four additional trees to replace trees in the park lost to storm damage.
The next meeting of the Houston City Council will be May 13 at 6 p.m. in the city hall council chambers. The public is welcome to attend; a public comment period is available at the beginning of the meeting.
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