Latest news with #HRGreen
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Newton plans to construct detention basin in area known for its flooding
May 31—To be better prepared for the next heavy rainfall event and avoid future flooding along a specific intersection on First Avenue East, the City of Newton is planning to build a detention basin to collect stormwater at a problematic area of town. The proposal was shared in a presentation at the May 19 city council meeting. Public Works Director Joe Grife said it would be a two-phase project that could be bid and constructed in the upcoming fall or winter seasons. In addition to building the 0.75-acre basin, the city would also reconstruct sanitary and storm sewer conflicts in the area, which caused issues during the May 2024 floods. "We had significant flash flooding throughout mostly the northeast part of town," Grife said while showing a picture of the intersection at First Avenue East and 12th Street East near Walgreens and Scooters. "...And if you remember, not long before this event, we had shared our stormwater study." Lo and behold this intersection was one of the locations identified in the study for staff to take a better look at. The storm fueled the city's efforts to find a solution. Public works teamed up with HR Green, a civil engineering company, to create digital modeling of the neighborhood that was heavily affected by the flooding. Using the existing conditions as a base, the digital modeling showed the effects of a 500-year storm in that area. Grife said the models lined up exactly with what the city saw the day of the floods: two to four feet of water on First Avenue and five to six feet of water in the nearby empty lot. Funding for the project would come from urban renewal area TIF funds. The city estimates the first phase of the project will cost $700,000 to construct. The basin would be located on city property north of Walgreens. "So just about 18 months from that storm we're going to be moving dirt out of there and getting some problems solved with that issue," Grife said. "This will be a dry basin. It won't hold water other than during rain events. There won't be any safety issues ... It will be maintained, mowed just like area is now." When the detention basin is built, the severity of the flooding drops dramatically, according to the digital modeling from HR Green. The second phase of the project would upgrade the existing storm sewer and constructs a new concrete box culvert. The second phase would cost $1.8 million. Funding is undetermined. "We'll be upgrading what's existing and building some new ones," Grife said.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council approves engineering services contract for new stormwater ponds, trails
Jan. 28—The Albert Lea City Council on Monday voted to approve engineering services for a series of stormwater rain gardens and public use trails slated to be constructed off of Front Street between Maplehill Drive and South Fourth Avenue. City Manager Ian Rigg said the city received an almost $886,000 stormwater resiliency grant for design and construction of the project, which will take place on city-owned property at 1300 Front St. The area is prone to flooding. Rigg said the parcels were donated to the city to create stormwater storage. Third Ward Councilor Jason Howland said he was glad to see the project ahead. "This project — I want to forewarn — this isn't going to solve completely flooding, but this will help," he said. "Flooding in that area has been an issue for a long time. Looking forward to see this move forward." He said it will not only aid in the flooding but it will also provide some new opportunities for pedestrians nearby. The council approved a cost of $173,700 with HR Green of St. Paul to develop construction plans and a cost estimate for the project, including design, wetland delineation, stormwater modeling with Geotech coordination and ADA walkway and improvements, along with optional construction oversight. The total estimated cost of the project is $1.028 million. Howland said the project is slated for completion at the end of 2025 or spring of 2026. In other action, the council: —Accepted donations totaling about $6,500 toward a small changing room for referees and hockey players in a portion of the skate-changing area outside the Nystrom Rink at City Hall. Rigg said Recreation Department staff had expected to build the room themselves, but Attig Construction offered its services, along with Geneva Lumber, Rink Systems and Albert Lea Electric, which also offered supplies and services. The 9 1/2-by-17-foot room will display the names of the donors. Howland, Mayor Rich Murray and Councilor Brian Anderson thanked the businesses that donated their services and materials to the project. —Accepted the feasibility report and called a public hearing for the reconstruction of 11th Street, from Margaretha Avenue to the east end. Proposed work includes complete removal and replacement of the pavement, curb and gutter, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and watermain. —Accepted the feasibility report and called a public hearing for this year's state-aid overlay projects. The project includes bituminous mill and overlay on Garfield Avenue from Fairlane Terrace to Richway Drive. —Accepted the feasibility report and called a public hearing for the neighborhood improvement project for this summer. It includes two main components: bituminous mill and overlay in the Crossroads Boulevard area and a portion of Lake Chapeau Drive, and replacement of the bituminous surface on a portion of SE Marshall Street. —Appointed Marly Steele to the Senior Center Board.
