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HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly newsletter Date: November 2, 2012 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: SAWYER CREEK CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS 1.: Work on the Sawyer Creek Channel Improvements Project (Contract 12-03) will not be completed in 2012 as originally intended. The project is being delayed due to the discovery of contaminated sediment between Sawyer Street and the Fox River. The dredging contractor reported observing a sheen on the water while dredging in this area. Additional sediment samples are being obtained for testing to determine the extent and level of contamination in the sediment. At this time, the only information we have is that the contamination is petroleum based. Staff is currently coordinating with DNR staff to determine when the dewatering bags must be removed from Bauman Park, however, it is currently anticipated that the bag dewatering field at Bauman Park will remain in place all winter. The dewatering bag field at West Algoma Park will have the bags removed before winter, but the fence will remain in place, and the site will be temporarily stabilized to limit sediment transport offsite during the winter. This location will then be utilized to complete the dredging west of the Sawyer Street Bridge. It is currently expected that dredging activities will be able to begin again after June 15, 2013. UPDATE ON LEAF VAC UNITS 2.: Please find enclosed a letter received from the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which is in response to my letter concerning leaf vac trucks. Street Superintendent Kevin Uhen met with the State Patrol this week to review the leaf vacuuming trucks. The meeting was very positive and we were given assurances that we could use the trucks again. However, the State Patrol suggested adding a person to “walk along” as an extra observer. They also suggested that this person could assist with raking leaves to the vacuum. We were told that Neenah and Menasha have removed a section of the chute on the trucks that causes the obstruction. Mr. Uhen took the State Patrol out to watch our leaf vac in action so that they could see the differences in our set-up. They agreed that our set-up was better than Manitowoc, Neenah and Menasha, even though there is still an obstruction. We will continue th with our leaf collection until November 16. Because we were shut down for a period of time, we are behind schedule and our schedule for collection has changed because we now have to collect at a much slower pace. Weekly Newsletter November 2, 2012 Page 2 UPDATE ON TRANSIT TRACKING SYSTEM 3.: At a Council Meeting earlier this year, Transportation Director Chris Strong gave Council an update on options for implementing a transit tracking system for GO Transit. Please find enclosed a memo which follows up on that earlier th discussion, and provides a recommendation for Council to consider at the November 13 Council Meeting. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Transportation Director Strong. OPPORTUNITY OSHKOSH CAMPAIGN 4.: The date has been set for the launch of the th Opportunity Oshkosh Campaign. The rollout event will be on Thursday, November 29, at 7:30 a.m., at the Oshkosh Convention Center. I’m enclosing a copy of an invitation to the launch event. This campaign is a partnership among the community-based organizations listed on the invitation. Opportunity Oshkosh is a campaign designed to market our community to prospective businesses to create more jobs and a larger tax based in Oshkosh. If you have any questions concerning this event, please contact Community Development Director Allen Davis. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 5.: Other items I’m enclosing with today’s Newsletter include a letter sent to affected property owners regarding the Sawyer Creek Dredging Project. I am also enclosing a letter received from Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh, which enclosed their check this year for payment in lieu of taxes. We are always very appreciative of Lutheran Homes for this generous gift. I am also enclosing an invitation for the CNG Grand Opening at th Kwik Trip next Thursday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. I will have City Clerk Ubrig notice this grand opening since all Council Members are invited to attend. I am also enclosing a press release concerning the city’s manhole rehabilitation program. Repairs have begun on more than 600 manholes, which started last Monday. Insofar as minutes are concerned, st I’m enclosing the minutes of the October 1 Sustainability Advisory Board meeting, and the th minutes of the September 26 Advisory Committee on Inspection Services meeting. The last item I’m enclosing is the latest report on the hotel/motel room tax. th UPCOMING MEETINGS 6.: Meeting I have scheduled for the week of November 5 include the th following: On Monday, November 5, I will be in meetings with department heads throughout the day concerning the 2013 Capital Improvements Program in anticipation of the Workshop to be held with the Council that evening at 5:00 p.m. At 10:00 a.m. on Monday, I will be attending the th ribbon cutting for the STH 21 and USH 41 interchange. On Tuesday, November 6, at 7:30 a.m., th I will be attending a meeting of the Community Sounding Board. On Wednesday, November 7, at 7:30 a.m., I will be attending a meeting of the Fox Valley Technical College Advisory th Committee. On Thursday, November 8, at 10:00 a.m., I will be attending the Kwik Trip CNG Grand Opening. If you have any questions concerning my attendance at any of these meetings, please feel free to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures