Engineering and street departments update council on East Jackson progress, grant items, predictive mobility and staffing shortfalls

City engineering staff and street department staff delivered monthly activity reports covering project schedules, grant-eligible work and staffing needs.

Engineering staff (Joe) said the East Jackson Street phase 2 plans are nearly complete and listed fine grading, pavement marking and sod installation among change-order items eligible for Local Road Improvement Program reimbursement (50/50 state/local). The rail predictive mobility project has materials and scheduled field work that staff said will start June 23 with an app and infrastructure go-live around July 10. The Westside interceptor sewer lining contract held a preconstruction meeting and is scheduled to start July 6 with an end-of-September completion date. Staff also reported that lab results from Demens Park illicit-discharge testing showed no petroleum products and that the DNR believes the visible sheen is likely biological in origin.

Street department staff outlined May work: curb and gutter and conduit for four street lights, 1,500 feet of water main installed in East Jackson phase 1, 260 feet of sanitary, multiple storm manholes and catch basin repairs, first-layer paving on 16th Street and planned surface paving next week. Staff also said they are short two seasonal employees and one full-time hire; seasonal starting wages were cited as $14–$16. Councilmembers asked staff to continue recruitment efforts and to coordinate paving schedules with the county and state projects on Highway 54 and adjacent segments.

Staff and the council discussed next steps for the projects and noted timelines tied to contractor schedules and grant reimbursements. The meeting included brief discussion about a planned press release tied to the predictive mobility go-live.