Continued from last week's issue City reports on comprehensive plan progress
Eight trains passing through Guttenberg daily, sometimes carrying hazardous materials, are one challenge presented to residents as well as the city government. (Press photo by Jayna Felder)
By Molly Moser
Editor’s note: In December 2013, after a year of collecting input from the community and extensive research, the city council approved a new comprehensive plan to guide the next 20-30 years of progress in Guttenberg. In a two-part story. The Press checks in with Mayor Russ Loven and Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce Director Emily Sadewasser about the third year of progress on the plan, and what’s to come in 2017.
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Transportation: The largest city project of late is the Garber Road bridge replacement, scheduled for 2017-19. The estimated project cost is $1.25 million with 80 percent funding from the federal government through IDOT. Project managers IIW Engineering have completed preliminary studies required for federal funding.
“We have had a total street analysis done through IDOT and Fehr-Graham Engineering to determine the quality of all streets throughout the city to be used for strategic planning purposes,” Mayor Loven told The Press. The city replaced approximately 150 intersection street signs in 2016, seal-coated five blocks of streets, and replaced 900 lineal feet of curb and gutter.
“We continue to work with the Canadian Pacific Railroad regarding upgrading our 13 railroad crossings, which is really too many for a city of our size and the distance from beginning to end of the city. The Canadian Pacific Railroad would like to close several crossings, but due to the layout of our city, including business and industry, it is very complicated,” Loven explained. He expects the closing of Pryam Street in 2017 and an upgrade to the Schiller Street crossing as soon as weather permits.
Facilities and Services: “We are always looking for ways to be more efficient and cost effective, and ways we can be moving ahead in this rapidly changing world. Demands, requirements and wishes far outstrip our resources in a world where we need to do more with less,” said the Mayor. “The most challenging and costly project will be upgrades and improvements to the historic city hall building.” One year ago the city conducted a TAN report, including an architect’s walk-through of the building, identifying many needs for efficiency and the integrity of the building itself.
“The third floor auditorium is the most glaring problem, which will require entirely new or historically renovated flooring, and a determination about why we have a humidity problem causing the buckling of the floor,” Loven explained.
An engineering study will be completed this month to develop an itemized list of needs with projected costs for planning and budgeting purposes. The resulting report is required for writing a Historical Resource Development Program grant through the Iowa Historic Preservation office.
“This 80-year-old historic gem is a WPA landmark and needs a major overhaul. We recently made improvements to the building chimney and have replaced the hot water heating system and much of the air conditioning system. The building has a new state-of-the-art camera security system, replaced last month,” Loven said.
Public Infrastructure and Utilities: According to the mayor, the city has been proactive in infrastructure planning, sustainability and developing a long term vision that meets the needs of a diverse population. A new backup generator has been installed for the water plant and water wells, and another is being installed for one of the Acre Street sewer lift stations. Ninety percent of water and electric meters in the city are now automatic, which allows much easier reading by city employees.
“A major department of the City of Guttenberg is our electric utilities division, which becomes more complicated by the year, especially in this age of energy conservation and a high tech and vulnerable electric grid system,” said Loven. STAR Energy of Alexandria, Minn., conducted several studies on the city’s electrical system to help bring it up to date. “This will allow us to become more efficient in identifying power needs and problems, and being safer.”
The city purchases wholesale electricity through an electric power broker, AEP, and is working with professionals to plan ahead for the 2018 renewal or change in provider.
“The City of Guttenberg has studied hydropower as an energy source for years. At this time the future possibility doesn’t look too feasible,” Loven admitted. “We have not been a leader in alternative energy but we are trying as a city to encourage our citizens to reduce energy waste and shift to more efficient uses of our good earth and planet.”
The city of Guttenberg invested in LED lighting several years ago, which is saving the city about $10,000 annually. In 2016, land was purchased along Acre Street for the possibility of building an electric sub-station in the future.
Natural and Agriculture Resources: “We cherish and want to preserve our beautiful Mississippi River Valley. The city has a large park system for its size, and the Ingleside and Riverside Parks are perhaps one of the most two beautiful parks bordering the entire Mississippi River Basin,” said the mayor. “We have reviewed our tree inventory and are studying remediation plans for the possible Ash Borer invasion, which is presently in the Cassville Area.”
Hazards: The city aims to be proactive and prepared for natural and manmade hazards. “We have eight trains going through Guttenberg daily and some of them carry hazardous materials,” Loven said. “We do have plans for mitigating train derailments but we need to continue to train and be vigilant. Along with the rest of Clayton County we have just updated our Hazard Mitigation Plan and we are regularly updating requirements for FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iowa DNR and the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge.”
Increased development in the Acre Street area is positive for the city, and when considered in light of climate change, has made the city proactive in river bluff protection planning.
Land Use: “The city emphasizes aesthetics and compatibility between housing, commercial and industrial areas while preserving the natural environment along with our historic gems. We are reviewing current zoning ordinances, doing an easement analysis, reviewing Brownfield resolutions, analyzing river front leases, and exploring annexation for this landlocked and river locked city,” Loven reported.
A copy of Guttenberg’s comprehensive plan is available online at www.cityofguttenberg.com.
