TOWER— With the construction season likely to come to an end in the next several weeks, the city council here used a special meeting to authorize getting bids on a major project and quotes on a smaller one.
City officials believe they finally have enough grant funding in place to upgrade stormwater connections, replace utility connections to two residences on S. Second St. between Pine and Birch Streets and replace old clay tile sewer line on S. Third. It is all being incorporated into a street reconstruction project including Birch St. (south of Main St.), S. Second St., and S. Third St.
The project is intended to replace a lateral shared by two homes that may be impacted by bedrock with new laterals providing access from the front of the affected residences. The project is also designed to redirect stormwater from around the train depot to try to address the ongoing issue with water infiltration into the depot’s basement.
The city has obtained approximately $670,000 combined in grants from a variety of sources. Affected homeowners will likely need to pick up a portion of the cost for installing new laterals across their private property. Alan Johnson, with Benchmark Engineering, said he’s had discussions with the homeowners, who are aware of that potential and remain supportive of the project.
In authorizing project advertising, the council directed Johnson to include sidewalk replacement on S. Second St. as an add-alternate, giving the city the ability to cut costs on the project if necessary. Most other residential streets in the city do not include sidewalks.
In other business, the council authorized seeking quotes to upgrade four existing, little-used tent sites at the Hoodoo Pt. Campground. The sites aren’t popular with tent campers because the sites are gravel rather than grass, but that’s ideal for RV campers.
With far more demand for RV sites than the campground can currently accommodate, the council is looking to invest in the needed utility connections to make the sites rentable to RV campers. Initial estimates for the work have come in at around $14,000, which the city could likely make up in just over a year at current RV camping rates, whether the sites are made seasonal or monthly. Council members were hoping that the work could be completed yet this year, allowing for rental of the sites beginning in May 2025.