T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Marshalltown City Engineer Ben Daleske addresses the city council about options for the Center Street Viaduct railings during Monday night’s meeting.

As the Center Street Viaduct is currently closed for extensive repairs, Marshalltown City Engineer Ben Daleske came before the council during Monday night’s meeting to discuss whether or not to preserve the current railings or replace them with something new.

Previously, the council had directed staff to retain and repaint the original railing system, and Daleske explained that new railings would cost $109,000 on top of the current contract according to a quote from Boulder Contracting. Councilor Greg Nichols asked Daleske several questions, and Councilor Jeff Schneider asked for a warranty estimate on the chain link fence replacement, which has not yet been provided.

“These things look like they are broached out. I don’t know that they’re saveable or it’s worth our time and money trying to save them. I think I’d be in favor of the chain link,” Schneider said.

Daleske said there would be about 660 feet of 10-foot tall fencing in the Union Pacific (UP) area, and in other areas it would be four feet tall. Councilor Gary Thompson asked if the railing could be removed from the larger contract with Boulder and be put out for competitive bidding, to which he replied that it would be an option.

Daleske said Boulder is currently contracted to sandblast and paint the existing railing.

“It was not specified in the contract that they were required to take it off and paint it. It was not required,” he said.

Thompson commented that as much as he loves history, the current railings are no longer serving a purpose, and he supported installing a black chain link fence. Before the discussion wrapped up, Schneider inquired about the possibility of finding a more aesthetically pleasing option instead of just a plain black chain link fence, and Councilor Melisa Fonseca agreed with the idea of exploring options and finding something “more fashionable.”

Schneider motioned to direct staff to explore options, including looking into the warranty on the chain link, looking into going out for other bids and trying to find a more aesthetically pleasing option.

During the public comment period, Lonnie Hogeland said that he thought the current railings were old and supported a chain link fence going forward.

“I’m kind of sad that this wasn’t thought about before we started working on the bridge and now you’re working on it, you’re figuring out which way you’re gonna do it, but I would say make the good chain link fence. Buy the best you can get. I don’t want it to look bad but put some kind of cable in there in case a car goes overboard,” he said. “Just from a mechanical state, that railing is done. Good luck.”

Schneider’s motion passed by a unanimous 7-0 tally.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.