Preliminary work begins on water tower painting

     During the recent Monticello City Council meeting on Jan. 3, the council heard an update on the water tower project.

     The city is looking to repaint the city’s water tower located off W. First Street.

     City Administrator Doug Herman said the first step is to contact and work with the various tenants to have their equipment removed and temporarily relocated. Several companies such as U.S. Cellular, Sprint, and Comelec have equipment on the top of the tower to assist with their services.

     Herman said U.S. Cellular is planning to bring in a temporary tower of their own for their equipment. Sprint wants to update its rental agreement with the city; Herman is hoping to include the relocation of their equipment with the agreement. However, he said they could take up to a year to have their equipment removed.

     “I hope to move faster on this, maybe suggest sharing space on the temporary tower with U.S. Cellular,” he said.

     Once the equipment has been removed from the water tower, the council, working with City Engineer Patrick Schwickerath, can put together a working schedule for the project and go out to bid.

In other city business:

     • The council reappointed Ron Behrends, Charles Claussen, Dave Tobiason, Dennis Gray, and Dennis Fear to the Soldiers Memorial Board.

     • They reappointed Anne Strittmatter to the Tree Board.

     • The Fiscal Year 2018 Airport Capital Improvement plan was approved.

     This is a five-year plan outlining various projects the airport board hopes to complete down the road. Some projects to highlight include: A new hangar project, updating the Airport Layout Plan, and acquire land for a runway extension.

     The FAA pre-approved the plan as well.

     • In an update from Herman regarding the hiring for two Parks & Recreation positions (director and superintendent), five candidates were interviewed for the director job.

     “I hope to make a decision on this very soon,” offered Herman.

     He said the superintendent job would not be filled right away.

     • Schwickerath gave an update on the E. First Street Bridge project. He said preliminary plans have been turned in and he is working on setting up a meeting with Alliant Energy to remove utility poles. Schwickerath said Alliant is looking to place “a good portion of their lines” underground.

     A letting is tentatively set for the project on June 20, with a possible starting date of Aug. 1.

     Worried about winter construction on a bridge project, Schwickerath told the council, “It is not uncommon to work on a portion of a bridge project in the winter.”

     • Herman informed the council that the city’s tax valuation has seen a $4 million increase from last year: $115.5 million to $119.6 million this year.