Colby council given updates on projects
The Colby city council convened on Tuesday, July 2, for their regular monthly meeting. During the meeting, the council was updated on the progress of several ongoing summer projects, including the work being done on Second Street and Community Drive and the repairs of the softball diamond that was damaged in a storm last December.
Mike Voss, the senior project manager for MSA Professional Services, reported on the ongoing work on N. Second St. The project began in April, with plans for extensive reconstruction of both the road and sidewalks themselves as well as the underlying water and sewer systems.
Currently, all of the pavement south of North St. has been removed and temporary water services have been installed, which will allow the project to move into the next phase. Voss stated that the first construction meeting is to be held on Thursday, July 7 at 10 a.m., during which a discussion will be held with the contractor to make sure that all parties are seeing eye to eye.
Voss also spoke on the work that has been done to Community Dr. The road, which is being expanded, will now stretch from E. Adams St. to the Kwik Trip just south of Highway 29. The westmost driveway of the Kwik Trip is to be turned over to the city of Abbotsford, as it was agreed upon that the business would do so if the road ever stretched there.
“They still have to get the gravel to grade yet,” Voss said when asked about the timeline that could be expected before the road would be usable. “As well as curb, gutter and then pavement.”
While he did not have a specific timeline available at the meeting, Voss hoped to have something more concrete following the construction meeting on Thursday.
Director of Public Works Harland Higley also gave an update on the repairs to the public softball diamond.
During a high wind storm last December, the field suffered extensive damage. The westside dugout completely collapsed and the stairs to the scorekeeper’s booth were ripped up and blown away. Additionally, one of the light poles toppled, damaging both itself and part of the chain link fence surrounding the field.
Much of this damage has been repaired. A new dugout has been constructed and the stairs to the booth and the damaged portions of the fencing were replaced.
“Ballpark is pretty close to being done,” Higley stated. “The only thing we have left is the infield and outfield lighting.”
Many of the lights are still in place, but the fallen light pole has not been replaced and there is another that was turned during the storm that is still not facing the correct direction.
“We should be able to have lights, but I don’t know how good they are going to be for Cheese Days,” he added.
Other business
_ The new fire truck purchased by Central Fire and EMS has not been placed into service yet. It will remain so until all training to be done with the vehicle is completed, at which point it will be placed at the Colby fire station. The truck that the new engine is replacing will be set to be sold once the new one is put into service.
_ A report was given on the Clark County Economic Development meeting held last month. There was new progress on the front of increasing affordable internet availability across the county. Bug Tussel Wireless, LLC, the company who is currently in charge of the internet improvement project in Marathon County, gave a proposal to Clark County. The total cost of this proposal would be $18 million. The project would include the placement of fiber optic cables, fixed wireless stations, and new towers. The county board will be meeting with a financial advisor as the next part of the process to see if such a proposal would be feasible or not.
_ The council approved the initiation and to set up a public hearing about a resolution to discontinue the alley located between Division St. and Jackson St. The alleyway in question lies behind Bowl Winkle’s and other residences along Highway 13 and connects to E. Adams St. Currently, the alley is not paved with gravel or asphalt and is instead covered in grass. The use of the alleyway is minimal at best, if it is used at all, and potential buyers and developers of the lots around this alley would find the process more difficult with this alley separating the lots.
