OTTUMWA —
Construction begins on Chester Avenue on Monday for the next phase of sewer separation, though several residents are unhappy since their trees will be taken down.
More than 50 people turned out for an informational meeting at Evans Middle School Monday night about the next phase of sewer separation, which begins at North Ferry Street and Chester Avenue on Monday.
The first part of the South Ottumwa Sewer Separation Project, Phase V, Division 1 will be on Chester Avenue from North Ferry Street to Osceola Street.
It needs to be finished by Aug. 17 in time for school to start, said Public Works Director Larry Seals. The rest of the project needs to be done by Nov. 1.
The entire Phase V, Division 1 project area is bordered by Richmond Avenue on the north, Ferry Street on the east, Hamilton Avenue on the south and Kettle Creek on the west.
“The contractor will be in next week ... and they’ll start cutting trees down,” Seals said. “Trees are typically the first thing to go.”
Pam Schell-Cloyd said she and others in the neighborhood don’t want their trees to come down.
“No one does,” Seals said. “When we looked at this corridor during the design process, the water and gas is on the north side. There’s really no other spot. Unfortunately, some trees will be removed.”
The city has worked with Veenstra & Kimm for Phases 1, 2 and 3, Seals said.
Schell-Cloyd was concerned that the city had not thought about working with anyone else and instead went with the same contractor again and again because of convenience.
“I know you’re on a time crunch. I understand that,” Schell-Cloyd said. “But if there is some other plan, could we wait?”
Seals said the meeting was intended to talk to those with special circumstances and to inform the public of tentative schedules and how the work will progress, not to redesign the project.
“The city allows people to plant trees between the back curb and sidewalk,” Seals said. “Unfortunately, when we do major improvements, sometimes those trees have to come out.”
Seals said it would cost about $40,000 to go around the marked trees, and there is no plan to replant the trees on the properties.
Francesca Djordjevich, who lives on Chester Avenue, said it’s ironic that the city was awarded Tree City USA status in April and they will now begin taking down mature trees that add value to the property.
Chris Johnson, Djordjevich’s next door neighbor, agreed and said there should have been an informational meeting more than a week before the project was slated to begin.
Djordjevich said there needs to be better communication between residents and City Hall.
Schell-Cloyd urged the crowd to call Mayor Frank Flanders today to ask for his help in saving the trees.
Seals said residents will have notice ahead of time when they will not have access to their driveways.
“If you’re on the opposite side of these lines, your drive won’t really be affected except to move around equipment,” Seals said.
Residents with specific concerns, such as one woman whose elderly, disabled father needs access to go to doctor appointments, can be worked out with the contractors, Seals said.
“We’ll have to coordinate with him,” Seals said. “There are some days where he won’t have access, barring we don’t hit other utilities. There are always unknowns.”
Todd Penisten, project engineer for Veenstra & Kimm, Inc., of West Des Moines, said if residents need to get a hold of someone with concerns, they can call Tom McCoy at 515-681-2962.
One resident asked why the city waited until July to begin this project when Osceola Street is “like a highway” when school starts in August.
“The design, letting, it all takes time,” Seals said. “The contractors have a schedule and other obligations. Not always do you get what you want. We still have a completion date set up and specifications, which tells the contractor how many people to mobilize to get it done. You’ll see longer hours and additional personnel. But we’re obligated to follow certain schedules.”
Mike Pardekooper, contractor for H&W Contracting, of Sioux Falls, S.D., said he and his crew will be here on Monday to begin driveway removals. At that point, residents can come up to them with special concerns.
“We’re going to do everything we can to work with you,” Pardekooper said. “You’re not just going to be asleep, then wake up at 7 a.m. and your driveway is torn out.”
Local News
July 3, 2012
Public frustrated by tree removal due to sewer project
Residents speak about concerns at meeting
- Local News
-
-
Ottumwan bound for Oklahoma
OTTUMWA — “We do this because we love it; we love helping people through those tough times.” That’s the message from Brandon Holstrom who will travel to Moore, Okla. today to help those impacted by the tornado that has devastated that community. Hols
- Celebrating Eldon ELDON -- The annual festival celebrating the town of less than 1,000 ties the community's bonds tighter through a weekend of music, food, performances and tournaments. American Gothic Days will take over Eldon again June 7-9. "It's the town festival,
- Lawmakers: We work together for change DES MOINES — State representatives sounded happy Thursday after their session finally ended. But they weren't just happy to be going home. “I think it was a very successful session, where we kept the budget to a sustainable level,” said Larry Sheets,
- Memorial Day weekend typically calm for parks, law enforcement OTTUMWA — With summer unofficially kicking off this weekend, area officials ask those celebrating the holiday to have fun but stay safe. Parks Director Gene Rathje said while camping in Ottumwa Park began on April 1, this weekend is the site's first
- EBF students engage in community service EDDYVILLE - The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont School Board learned this week about community service work students recently completed throughout the area. "The students did a great job. They were engaged in some service learning opportunities in Fremo
- Iowa school reform to be optional DES MOINES -- State officials hope educators, students and parents soon start seeing changes in the classroom. But only if they want to. Parts of Gov. Terry Branstad's "blueprint for education" have been approved. But like most major issues during th
-
Missing teen located, returned home
SIGOURNEY — The 13-year-old girl reported missing from Hedrick on Monday has been found. The teenager, Hunter Kopp, was located at a Sigourney residence around 10 p.m. Wednesday, said Keokuk County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Runnells. "The officers last nig
-
Ottumwa man charged with indecent exposure
OTTUMWA -- A man has been charged with indecent exposure after passers-by noticed a teenage girl in distress Monday afternoon. Angelo Nick Orfanos, 28, of Ottumwa, was charged with indecent exposure Wednesday as a result of an Ottumwa Police Departme
-
Stabbing trial pushed back
OTTUMWA -- The trial of an Ottumwa man accused of stabbing another man to death has been pushed back. Twenty-year-old Brandon Seim was charged in November 2011, when he was 18, with the stabbing death of Andy Madren, 34. When officers arrived at the
- Clarification ELDON -- It looked even worse in the light of day. A Wapello County farm damaged by high winds in the storm this week, neighbors had first believed, suffered some damage. But the situation is even worse, Eldon's mayor informed the Courier, saying tha
- More Local News Headlines
-
Ottumwan bound for Oklahoma
