With the James River already nearing flood stage, Huron city officials are moving forward with plans to minimize problems as the deep snow pack begins melting in earnest.

City Engineer Mike Wever briefed the commission Monday on steps several city departments are taking now.

Flood stage at the gauging station near the bridge is 10 feet, and the river is currently at 9.4 feet.

Water will reach the filter house at the swimming pool at 15.4 feet, and will begin flowing over Jersey Avenue at 16.5 feet. It would enter Memorial Park without a dike on Jersey Avenue at 18.2 feet, although the city plans to build an earthen dike, covered with plastic and sandbags, if necessary.

The water flows over Highway 14 and into the park at 20.9 feet. The worst flooding in recent memory was in 1997. On April 6 of that year, the river reached 21.2 feet.

Wever said precautions are being taken to minimize the impact of flooding on city infrastructure. Fortunately, no homes will be affected.

Mayor David McGirr said drainage is much better with the redesign of the golf course. If water in the park can be pumped out within a week it will give the trees and grass the best chance of survival.

Wever said the city is making sure pumps and generators are in working order, is preparing to stockpile sandbags and is monitoring the situation with the National Weather Service.

Any affected streets would be closed if declared unsafe for travel.

With the river already so high, preparations are beginning earlier than a year ago.

“As far as I can see, everybody’s on top of it,” Wever said.

Meanwhile, commissioners adopted resolutions regarding projects on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which are funded primarily with state and federal dollars.

They deleted grading, curb and gutter, storm sewer and surfacing projects on Ninth Street from Lincoln Avenue to the new truck route and on Third Street from Pennington Avenue to the new truck route. The work has been on the list for some time, but keeps getting pushed back.

In their place, they asked that milling, overlay, curb and gutter and handicap ramp work be done on Ninth Street from Lincoln Avenue to Frank Avenue and Frank Avenue from 14th Street to Third Street, and on Third Street from Nevada Avenue to Dakota Avenue and 21st Street from Dakota Avenue to the James River bridge.

The emphasis is to redo streets where water mains have been replaced. Only specific city streets are eligible for STIP funds.

The proposal is to do the project on Ninth Street from Lincoln Avenue to Frank Avenue and Frank Avenue from 14th Street to Third Street in 2012. The project is expected to cost $1.15 million.

The project on Third Street from Nevada Avenue to Dakota Avenue and 21st Street from Dakota Avenue to the bridge would be done in 2013 at a cost of $830,000.

The city may look at an overlay project on Ninth Street west of Lincoln Avenue in the area of city recreational facilities.

Commissioners also:

• Gave second and final reading of an ordinance increasing the maximum penalty for violations of city ordinances from $200 to $500 to be consistent with state law.

• Approved first reading of a supplemental ordinance for the 2009 budget.

• Accepted a proposal from Irrigation Design Associates of Horace, N.D., for development of pump station improvement plans for the east side pump station. The proposal is to use raw river water to irrigate parks, the golf course and ballparks.

• Renewed the agreement with the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force for the static aircraft display at the corner of 15th Street Northwest and Dakota Avenue North.

• Approved a $20,700 final payment request from Huron Welding for the backstop netting system for the new baseball diamond.

• Went into executive session for a personnel matter.

For the complete article see the 03-02-2010 issue.

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