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Clean up could run up to $417K
by Rick DeClue · News · October 24, 2014
Preliminary estimates show costs for fixing storm water runoff and soil contamination problems near 348 Cookson Street could total from $282,000 to $417,000.
On Monday, the West Branch City Council acknowledged responsibility for the problems around Dave’s Welding & Repair.
City Engineer Dave Schechinger of Veenstra and Kimm submitted a cost estimate of $142,000 for the storm water control work – a problem the city has known about for many years, according to Mayor Mark Worrell.
City Administrator Matt Muckler presented the council with preliminary costs for removing contaminated soil at various depths. The estimates ranged from $140,000 for 18 inches to $275,000 for 36 inches.
Muckler said a large part of these costs represent disposal fees for the contaminated soil. Worrell said the soil would probably end up at the Iowa City landfill.
“I’m not sure the Cedar County landfill could handle it,” he said.
Worrell also said he believes that the soil contamination may be limited to only a portion of the property, perhaps as little as one-third, based on where the excess water sits.
Property owner Dave Peden operates his business on a portion of the 1.4-acre site. He told the council at its Oct. 4 meeting that flooding on the property during heavy rainstorms worsened over time due in part to work by the Iowa Department of Transportation on Interstate 80, plus the development of homes on the former Cookson property now owned by Lynch’s Excavating.
Also, rainwater carried road salt from the city’s maintenance shed to Peden’s property, contaminating it.
Worrell’s letter, approved by the council, informs Peden of planned storm water improvements for the area anticipated by the city “when funds become available” and “when easement agreements are arranged with property owners” affected by the work.
The mayor noted there is currently no timeframe assigned to this project, but that the city is in the process of finalizing its capital improvements plan.
Initially, Worrell’s proposed letter put the onus on Peden to suggest proposed solutions to the soil contamination.
Council member Mary Beth Stevenson recommended that the city try to be a part of the solution on the contamination issue.
The council then amended the letter to include an offer to have the city engineer prepare cost estimates for potential solutions to the salt problem.
Worrell speculated that the salt runoff was likely from the site of an old salt shed on the city’s site. The new salt shed may also need to be shored-up to ensure containment, he said.
Schechinger noted two weeks ago that the storm water problem is complicated by the fact that directing water to downhill outlets may affect other property owners. The suggestion was also made to check for other soil contaminants besides salt.
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