Excavation work to begin on flood control plan
Angie Steffen
Randolph Times
RANDOLPH — City Council members learned Oct. 7 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Risk Section 205 Project Phase 1 has been awarded to Shinn Kellogg, LLC.
Shinn Kellogg, LLC plans to have a bulldozer start stripping the Middle Logan Creek channel for erosion control.
The effort will start north of the Jackson Street Bridge and continue upstream to west of Sholes Road.
Shinn Kellogg, LLC plans to start excavating the Middle Logan Creek channel and moving dirt mid-November 2020. The project will be moving very quickly with a 600 yard/hour excavator.
The Bridge Street Bridge will be removed very early in the project. Additionally, Sholes Road Bridge will be removed in early 2021 after a Shoe-Fly is installed on the east side of Sholes Road to accommodate all traffic including agricultural and commercial. Shinn Kellogg, LLC has 720 days to complete Phase 1. Plans for a USACE Informational meeting and ground breaking ceremony are also in the works. Dates and times are still to be determined.
Phase 2 design which is Sholes Road West to Pierce County line, should be completed early spring 2021. Appraisals and property offers should start late spring 2021. Phase 2 property acquisitions should be completed before Memorial Day Weekend 2021.
Advertising for bids and awarding of Phase 2 will happen in late Summer with construction of Phase 2 starting Fall 2021.
The Council also approved a new code of conduct for the City of Randolph.
The code states the City expects its employees, Mayor, members of the City Council, and all members of a City Board or Committee, to: maintain the highest standards of cooperation, integrity, impartiality, good judgment, diplomacy, courtesy, fairness and equality in serving the City; refrain from making representations which might obligate or put the City in jeopardy; adhere to the highest standards of personal and professional ethics; treat employees, Mayor, members of the City Council, all members of a City Board or Committee, and members of the public with respect and professionalism; carry out all duties to the best of their abilities; and conduct themselves in such a manner as to bring credit to the City of Randolph.
The First reading of Ordinance 704 of the approved 2020 Annexation plan was completed with unanimous approval of the council.
Council members waived the three readings and approved Ordinance 707 to amend the city fee schedule.
The various fees are used for the city’s “raising operating revenue and covering the City costs and operating overhead.”
According to city administrator Ben Benton, gaps were found in operating fees for the city. Ten-ft. blade rental will be removed. Building permit costs were lowered as the city would like to encourage more permits. Gravel prices were set below what it costs the city to get the gravel here. A late fee of one percent will also be added for bills, such as work orders due to the city.
The electric rate was changed from $18 to $18.50. The last increase was in 2017 when the rate went from $14 to $18.
There will be a special council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m., at the City Offices 212 E Broadway, Randolph and available on Zoom.
Preparations are being made for a remodelling of the city office. Josh Rayford said the countertop island will be removed and the ceiling and flooring are being replaced.
The city has established the Western property line as the City Recycling Center.
Hackberry trees from the City Tree Farm on Sholes Road, that would otherwise be removed for the Flood Risk Phase 1 project, will be moved by Hartington Tree to establish a “green fence” on the western property line of the City Recycling Center.
The council also approved a variance request on McGill 302 W Randall Street Variance and Curb Cut permit; approved a Variance Request and Floodplain Development Permit for a deck on the front of his house for Sterling Hardisty at 609 E Hughson Street; and approved Curb Cutting Permit for Linda Rosberg at 203 E Hughson Street.
Council members agreed to accept Jennifer Backer’s and James Munter’s resignations from the Park Board. Sue Meyer and Tim Kint were accepted for appointment to the Park Board.
Council members approved utilizing the second floor of the Auditorium, above the entryway, for ROAR storage.
Resolution 2020-17, a highway 20 LED Lighting upgrade/expansion agreement XL2022 was approved.
Council members approved an additional one percent increase in the Restricted Funds Authority, subject to limitations on the budget for 2020-2021.
The city tabled several items including Ordinance 708 to amend Park and Recreation Board Bylaws, and Ordinance 709 – to amend City Code Chapter 2-101 Boards and Committees, and Ordinance 710 to amend City Code Chapter 2-201 Library Board Bylaws.
Council members moved ahead with downtown revitalization efforts by adding subsection 2-206 Economic Development Advisory Board Bylaws. The Foundation will be working on Downtown Revitalization funding.
Council members discussed adding up to three stop signs on Main Street to help control traffic flow near the city park. One solution would be adding a stop sign on intersection of Main Street and Park Street for southbound traffic. Two stop signs could be added on the intersection of Main Street and Walden Street for south and north traffic. After lengthy discussion, the idea was tabled. City Council members accepted the idea of requesting a traffic study and the Planning Commission to determine alternate solutions, including sidewalk improvement ideas, to present at a future City Council Meeting. Planning commission members are concerned about how the city changes traffic signs.
City administrator Ben Benton said he thinks something more needs to be done to get people to wake up about the congestion of pedestrians and traffic along the route to and from the park.
“I don’t want to see someone get hurt,’’ he said.
“I agree the sidewalk situation is really bad. You have to walk on the street because there is no sidewalk,’’ said Councilman Dennis Bazata.
Councilmen Brandon Backhaus and Brad Bargstadt expressed that they don’t think stop signs are the answer. Backhaus said then the ambulance will have to stop at the stop sign. He also said speed bumps may cause water to collect at the intersection.
Rayford said the City is utilizing the program Cemify to further digitize cemetery records and to have public visibility online through www.randolphne.com.
Fundraising is underway for the City Pool to add a Zero Entry and Splash Pad.
Benton delivered reports for Police Chief Pat Eller, Library Board and Planning Commission meeting minutes, and Utilities Supervisor T.J. Lackas department report. In addition to winterizing the pool and park, the Water Department is finalizing the water repair at Kemp and Main streets. An additional project later this fall will be a water project at the corner of Jackson and Bridge streets, some street repairs on west Broadway Street, and sewer main cleaning. The chosen vendor for sewer main cleaning, will also inspect the mains and can fix issues without disturbing the ground.
The City is coordinating with multiple vendors to replace the grass infield with Red Ball diamond aggregate on the practice ball field by the pool and apply remaining stored Red Ball diamond aggregate on baseball/softball fields.
Electrical Superintendent Randy Beck has been working on numerous utility moves for Parks, Flood plain project, waste water treatment facility, and Hwy 20 reconstruction LED lighting. Beck is working with multiple vendors for a quote to add electricity to the East welcome to Randolph sign.
The City reconvened as the Community Development Agency (CDA) to take necessary action on request from Richard Bloomquist for the City to replace 45’ of full curb and 15’ of half curb along the corner of Pacific and Broadway. Bloomquist is replacing part of his parking. Several council members indicated they would like to look at the project before deciding.
Luke Stueckrath transported two loads of red rock for the city. The rock was purchased in Spencer, S.D.
Benton said the city is looking into possibly getting a generic city code to adopt to have all Randolph’s city codes up to date and online. He said their is an American company that offers this service.
Bazata warned that doing that process the city will have to be very careful and go through all the codes to make sure everything in the codes applies to Randolph’s needs. He said the school did this process and found some details that they needed to change to suit their specific school.
Council members discussed the qualifications for a board of economic development. The council could require members to live within the 687 zip code area.
Illegal dumping warnings were given to individuals for the city recycling center.
The City may contact the school to have students design a new logo for the garbage truck. The City would also like to have a wall mural painted across the street from First State Bank. Bazata suggested the council ask Joe Brandl about the mural.
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