Muscatine City Council to vote Thursday on planned street paving projects

The Grandview Avenue intersection with Oregon and Warren streets is partially open to traffic. The intersection is open for thru traffic from Oregon to Warren, but Grandview Avenue remains closed to the south of the intersection to the railroad intersection. [courtesy @CityOfMuscatine]

The Pavement Management Program for the City of Muscatine could take another step forward for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 when the Muscatine City Council convenes at 7 p.m. Thursday (September 16) in the Council Chambers of Muscatine City Hall.

A virtual meeting will also be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but do not feel comfortable in attending in person. (virtual meeting details listed below).

The Department of Public Works has compiled a list of streets that qualify for full-depth patching and will tentatively be included in the 2021/2022 Full Depth Patching Project. The streets tentatively included were selected from a matrix developed to rank streets and alleys in Muscatine. A public hearing will be held Thursday prior to the approval of the plans and specifications for the 2021/2022 project, and the soliciting of bids.

Tentative street segments to be included in the contract are: Isett Avenue from Bidwell Road to the Heinz pedestrian entrance; Houser Street from Fulliam Avenue to Dawson Street; Stewart Road from Oregon Avenue to Wallace Street; Robin Road from Sunrise Circle east to the end of the concrete; Frontage Road from Cleveland Street to Ford Avenue; Devitt Avenue from Ridgewood Avenue to Pinefield Street; and a section at 1608 Cedar Street.

Council approved the plans and specifications for the 2021/2022 Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay Project, the other part of the annual Pavement Management Program, during the August 16 meeting. City Council will be asked to approve a contract with Brandt Construction Company during Thursday’s meeting.

The Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay Project is a combination of streets and alleys that qualified for the overlay based on a matrix previously developed.

Street sections tentatively included in the contract are: Fair Acres Drive from Bidwell Road to Crestline Drive; Robin Road from Bidwell Road to Sunrise Circle; Bartlett Street from Mulberry Avenue to Cedar Street; Fletcher Avenue from Hershey Avenue to Fletcher Avenue; Railroad Avenue from Sampson Street to Schley Avenue; Wallace Street from LB Trailer Court to Indiana Street; and, 5th Street from Mulberry Avenue to Cypress Street.

Alley sections tentatively included are: Lincoln Boulevard and Grand Avenue from Clay to Jackson; Lake Park Boulevard and McArthur Street from 2nd Avenue to Lake Park Boulevard; Taylor and Clinton streets from New Hampshire Street to Hershey Avenue; the #2 alley from Linn to Pine; Mary Place and Orchard Avenue from Orchard Avenue to the dead end; and East Mississippi Drive and Smalley Street from Park Avenue to Brook Street.

Sections can be added or deleted depending on funds available and other unforeseen conditions.

Also on the agenda are several requests from Community Development to approve agreements allocating $25,000 to the Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA) to support the Housing Navigator position this fiscal year, $25,000 to the Community Foundation of Muscatine to support a Community Initiatives Manager to work on housing projects, and $25,000 to the Community Foundation of Muscatine to support a grant writer position.

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens attending the meeting are asked to follow current CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations for wearing a mask indoors whether vaccinated or not. The City of Muscatine does not require wearing a mask, but does urge the public to follow Public Health and CDC recommendations.

Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the September 16, 2021, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

The best way for the public to participate is to dial in to the GoToMeeting session, mute your device, watch the session on YouTube or Cable Channel 2, and, at the appropriate time, unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on the GoToMeeting virtual meeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member.

Muscatine City Council Regular Meeting | Thurs., Sept. 16, 2021 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/860231637

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (646) 749-3122, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 860-231-637 when prompted.

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/860231637

Please mute your computer or phone while listening to the proceedings (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). A chat window is available when you use your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Those wishing to speak or to ask a question are asked to use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The Mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.