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Street work is focus of City Council meeting

LAUREL — The Laurel City Council discussed the need for a street paving improvement district at its meeting last week.

Andy Forney of D.A. Davidson assisted with the discussion on how to pay for paving the street that runs from Laurel Feed & Grain to the softball field. Landowners have agreed to pay for their share of improvements - three verbally and one who has already paid. JEO will be the engineer for the project.

The council also heard an update about other street work.

New concrete has been installed between Spruce and Cedar streets on Second Street by Tim Harris Construction. Penro Construction has installed new water mains and service lines from Spruce to Oak streets on Second Street.

The next step is for Penro to install the storm sewer from Cedar and Second streets through Oak and Second.

Council members also agreed to add a solar push button crosswalk light to the Highway 15 pedestrian crosswalk.

The city council also discussed equipment for a new splash pad.

The city was able to join a buying group with other cities that allowed them to purchase equipment at a significant savings. The project is not required to be put out for bid and won’t require tax dollars.

At its meeting, the Council also:

- Approved building permits for Alex Sullivan for a 58-foot-by-91-foot fence; Josh and Carol Erwin for a 25-foot-by-38-foot patio; and Nutrien Ag Solutions for a 9,000-square-foot dry fertilizer building within the city’s one-mile jurisdiction.

- Tabled the city administrator’s evaluation.

- Met with Regg Pehrson to discuss insurance quotes. The item was tabled pending another bid coming in.

- Heard a police report which included two fix-it tickets, one citation, five warnings, four animal complaints, two motorist assists, two outside assists, three citizen complaints, one noise complaint, one alarm, one assault, one nuisance vehicle, one suspicious person, three disturbances and one theft. One warning was given for fireworks after the Fourth of July.

- Heard an update on available Cedar County Convention and Tourism Board grants.

- Heard an update on mapping for an electrical study.

- Heard an update on a new vacuum tank used to haul sludge from the wastewater treatment plant.

- Heard that three more test holes were drilled for a well.

- Heard an update on recent city events. The Chamber’s Tailgate is set for Friday, Sept. 3, for the home football game which is also Homecoming. Funds raised will go back to the school.

- Heard an update from the tree board as community tree inventory is completed. The board has a plan to combat Emerald Ash Borer.

- Entered into an agreement with Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School for the school to provide shelter for students during an emergency. The fire hall may be used as a classroom during the building project.

- Heard about recent city awards.

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