Street work, updates in services in city’s capital Improvement Plan

Tentative figures presented to board on Tuesday

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Rolling out a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the City of West Liberty, members of the city council are likely to approve $21-plus million in projected spending at Tuesday’s meeting of the City Council held Dec. 15.

Put together by interim city manager Elizabeth Hansen with input from city department heads, city leaders, the ever-changing document will be a tool the city will use moving forward for their annual budget while keeping city services afloat. The figures may change as city needs change, but the working document will serve as a guide for major improvements in the community through the next five years.

The overall CIP calls for $5.2 million in major street improvement plans over the next five years including work on Maxon Street from Rainbow Drive to the corporate limits, Spencer Street from seventh to fourth street, fifth street from Calhoun to Columbus, Rainbow Drive from Maxon to Garfield Avenues, Calhoun Street from East “A” Street to the entrance of the Muscatine County fairgrounds and Clay Street from seventh to sixth streets.

The plan calls for half of that work to take place by the end of 2023 with more work to be completed in 2025-27.

The plan also calls for $1.2 million in maintenance improvement to streets including Knotty Circle Drive and Gibson Street and Miller Street by 2023 at a cost of nearly $873,000 while work on Calhoun and Park Streets at $265,000 is slated for 2025-27.

Additional street maintenance is also being targeted if funding is available for five different projects including work on Fourth Street, Morgan Street, Chesebro Road, Walton Street and Seventh Street.

The city is also projecting $1.58 million in storm water projects in the city, the major project being Rainbow Drive from Maxson Avenue to Garfield to cost $360,000 and to take place before 2023.

The city is also looking at $1.83 million in improvements to the water system, including a rehabilitation of Well #2 before 2023 costing $480,000, sixth street water improvements costing $483,000 to take place in 2025-27 and $373,000 west side tower loop work to be completed by 2023. Other money is pledged as well for improvements on Spencer Street and Maxson Avenue.

The city is also looking at nearly $6.9 million in wastewater improvements to the sewer operation, including $4.638 million in baseline improvements to take place by 2024 and $945,000 for sewer lining and manhole restoration from 2022 to 2026. A total of $300,000 in work for a new lift station in the proposed Dutton Subdivision is also in the plan for 2022 as well as $575,000 for backup power capabilities and six generators for lift stations set at about $107,000 annually.

In the electric department, the city is looking at spending $1.8 million over the next five years, including $155,000 for a new roof next year along with work on Maxson Street and Rainbow drive totaling $170,000.

Power plant generator work planned for 2025-27 is anticipated to cost $60,000 while creating an underground conversion in a city park will cost $320,000, scheduled for 2022-24.

The West Liberty Public Library was also in the plan, with work costing $481,000, including $102,000 for a new HVAC system next year. Youth and meeting room restorations are also on slate for next year at a total of $155,000.

In parks and recreation, Friendship Park on the south side of West Liberty is on slate for a $60,000 update next year while lights are scheduled for the two Dutton Park soccer fields in 2023 at a total cost of $180,000.

A revision/remodeling of the city hall and police station, also known as the Waldo C. Myers Municipal Building, are also in the plan for 2023-25, costing an estimated $2.3 million.

The city council will be discussing the Capital Improvement Plan at their Tuesday, Dec. 15 meeting.

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