The Jefferson Public Works Committee reviewed a sidewalk project with the Greene County School District and looked at doing a drainage district improvement at its monthly meeting on Tuesday. 

The Committee reviewed a preliminary cost estimate for the sidewalk project from West Central Avenue to Greene County High School. City Administrator Scott Peterson shared that the total cost of the construction was $320,542 and the engineering fees that Bolton and Menk proposed was $71,500, which was above the preliminary estimate of $63,500. City Engineer Jim Leiding explained the main reason why there was an increase.

“There’s a little bit with, if we actually have to do a DOT (Iowa Department of Transportation) (bid) letting, they have a set schedule and certain things that have to be done. So they have like a, I think it’s a 30 percent plan review, a 60 percent plan review, and a 90 percent plan review. So that’s a little bit more review sessions than we typically have on a project like this, and it’s just following their process just adds a little bit of time   

The Committee agreed to move forward to the City Council to approve the proposed plan, as well as applying for a regional transportation grant. Peterson added that this project would only be funded by a grant, but that the necessary preparation work by Bolton and Menk would be done to apply for the grant that is due in January. 

Another highlight was the discussion on an improvement project for the drainage district on the east side of town. Leiding went over the details that would be included in the scope of the area that impacts about 100 property owners in Drainage District 57, from the Greene County Fairgrounds north to the railroad tracks. It was mentioned that the preliminary report for engineering services was $25,000. Peterson explained how the study would be paid for.

“But what I would propose is that, you know, it costs $25,000 a piece, it would basically be coming out of the Sanitary/Sewer Capital (Fund) for now. Then, if we would do the assessments, we would be able to reimburse that fund back, or if we would decide to fund it some other way, preliminarily TIF (tax increment financing) would be another option, we would reimburse that fund with TIF dollars.”    

Leiding added that if the city chose the assessment route, there would be a public hearing required, along with notifying the impacted landowners, among other steps to reimburse the expense to the Sanitary/Sewer Capital Fund. The Committee decided to move the topic forward for the City Council to vote on next week.