Council approves bonds for renovation projects

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council approved a bond purchase agreement to fund the renovations to City Hall and Lion’s Field Pool during its regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan, 22.

The meeting began with a proclamation by Mayor Dean Andrews recognizing the upcoming Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 26-31.

Second grade teacher Shelby Schwartzkopf and students Melanie Miller, Noah Abbott and Piper Hall presented to the council the plans and activities that Immaculate Conception Catholic School has to celebrate the week.

“It’s always fun to hear all the activities you’ve got going on,” said Andrews.

The mayor also read a proclamation recognizing February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, encouraging awareness and support for young people facing relationship violence.

In regular business, the council received good news regarding the city’s bond purchase for the financing of the City Hall and Lion’s Field Pool renovations. Having acquired an “Assured Guaranty” bond guarantee, the bond rating for the city has increased to an “AA” rated issuance, opening the bond to a larger buying pool.

Due to a favorable market and the city’s strong cash reserves, the city is expected to be able to borrow with an interest rate of about 4%.

“I call that a win,” said council member Patrick Lumley.

Continuing business from the previous week’s workshop, the council approved a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify and remove lead-based service lines in the city’s water system.

“We’re the first community west of the Mississippi to sign up,” said City Administrator Steve Diers.

The EPA’s “Get the Lead Out” initiative will offer technical support, planning and potentially federal funds to bring the city’s water infrastructure up to date with current lead and copper rules.

The council also approved a change order for the pool renovation project, adjusting plans for the filter system upgrades. While initially planning to keep its current four-filter system, a proposal was made to change to two larger filters, which will increase the surface area of the filters and cut down on the number of valves needed for the system and also improve water quality, resulting in a savings of about $42,000 for the project.

Finally, the council approved the replacement of three traffic controllers on Main Street. Time has degraded the underground components that control the traffic signals at the intersection of Blunt, Ferguson, and Hulin Street, limiting them to a regular rotation or straight blinking.

“We’re very limited on what we can do to change them,” said Diers.

The city has a quote to replace the underground controls with above ground technology for the three intersections at a total cost of $50,655.