Council approves funds for river bank
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICANThe Marshalltown City Council Monday approved a construction project that will help preserve the north bank of the Iowa River near the northeast corner of the city.
The project will help protect a discharge pipe that crosses the river shortly downstream from where the riverbank is. City officials have worried that flooding this year has substantially weakened part of the bank where the river bends and believe there is a chance the river could cut through an oxbow, which would render the city's discharge pipe useless.
Mike Fields, director of the Water Pollution Control Plan, estimated the project will cost more than $300,000. However, city officials have said in the past they believe it is more cost effective to prevent the river cutting through than it would be to lengthen the pipe should the river ever change course.
"The majority of it is going to come from Water Pollution Control funds," Fields said.
A smaller portion of the funds will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to damages being paid to existing city structures because of the flooding.
The project will consist of fortifying the north bank of the river with 3,500 tons of rock. To reach the point needing attention, a road will also be built.
The city will send solicitations for bids and the project is expected to begin before the end of the year. Completion is scheduled to be before the middle of March.
"Hopefully before the first flood," Fields said.
Council member Bethany Wirin asked how the city would be able to afford the project, which before this year was unplanned.
"It's going to have to be looked at as far as the capital improvements plan and sewer rates," Fields said. "But right now our capital improvements fund does have funds available."
In other business, the city approved changes to the city's sign ordinance. However, that ordinance does not include electronic sign regulations that were proposed in previous versions of the same ordinance. An amendment removed those regulations until the Planning and Zoning Commission has adequate time to review them and make any changes deemed necessary.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
