Council welcomes new fire chief

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council met the new fire chief, approved street closures for summer events, and closed out some construction projects during its regular meeting on Monday, July 1.

The meeting began with Police Chief Hugh Anderson formally introducing the council to newly hired Fire Chief Sam Deverell.

“We are very excited to have him on board,” said Anderson, who is also the city’s public safety director.

Anderson also brought to the council’s attention officer John Jenkins, who has recently been promoted to second shift lieutenant.

“I’m excited to take on this new role,” said Jenkins.

Going into regular business, Community Development Director Mark Wicks returned to the council for yet another request for street closures to accommodate summer events.

Wicks requested Salsbury Street to be closed from Clark Street to Owen Street for the morning of July 4 for the upcoming Firecracker 5 Races.

This year’s route for the annual run will be a little different, not requiring police for traffic control on South Grand as the route will circle back before that point.

Wicks also asked the council to re-approve street closures around Central Park for the rescheduled Party in the Park dates. Two Party in the Park events have been postponed due to weather this year. One make-up date has been set for July 12 and a tentative make-up date for the other has been scheduled for July 26.

Also asking for a Central Park street closure was Charles City Arts Center Director Emily Kiewel, who requested Jackson and Kelly Street to be closed for Art-a-Fest on Saturday, Aug. 17.

In other business, the council held a public hearing to approve the final plans and award the contract for the 2024 11th Avenue Bike Trail Project.

At the hearing, Dave Bock, who has property along the trail, asked the council if the trail would be at a higher or lower elevation than the currently existing road and how that would affect water drainage in the area.

“It’s going to be pretty much where it is today,” said City Engineer John Fallis.

Bock also brought forward a concern he had about fencing along the trail.

“I have to be able to push snow or else I’m going to have a problem with drifting,” said Bock.

Fallis and Bock discussed how the trail would be set up and agreed to work something out that would keep drifting from becoming an issue.

Ending the hearing, the council approved the low bid from Heartland Asphalt to do the project. A drop in the price of asphalt has resulted in Heartland Asphalt offering a $270,572.30 bid, more than $40,000 lower than the next competitor and well under the estimated cost.

For other city projects, the council approved the final payment of the 2022 Garden Corridor Edible Arboretum, concluding with a total cost of $175,959.13, $2,452.37 under the original bid amount.

The council also approved the final payment for the 2022 ADA Pedestrian Ramp Sidewalk project, completed for a total of $32,245.30, $653.05 over the original bid amount.

Looking toward future projects, the council held the second reading of an ordinance to amend a portion of the industrial park for residential development.

The council also approved the second reading of an ordinance that will change responsibility for residential electrical inspections from the city’s inspector to the state inspector, as the city inspector has retired. The state inspector is already conducting electrical inspections for commercial and industrial businesses.

“This will be a one-stop shop for all their electrical inspection needs,” said City Administrator Steve Diers.

As a result, the city will also be dissolving the no-longer-needed Electrical Trade Board.

The council also set a public hearing date for Wednesday, July 24, for the proposal to borrow $910,000 to pay for repairs to the Lions Field Swimming Pool.

It was also noted that City Hall will be closed for Independence Day on Thursday, July 4 and, due to staff being unavailable, there will be no workshop meeting on Wednesday, July 10.