Tag: Works

Surplus golf simulator is put on the auction block

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 13, 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine Department of Public Works (DPW) will conduct an on-line public surplus auction April 21, 2023, through May 5, 2023. The only item for bid is a used golf simulator at the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course that was recently declared surplus.

All items are available to bid on through the auction web site www.publicsurplus.com starting April 21, 2023, and running through 3 p.m. on May 5, 2023. Potential bidders can go to that website, search for Iowa, and then City of Muscatine for the auction items. You must register to view items and to bid on items.

Tags City, conduct, Department, Iowa –, Muscatine, online, public, will, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Public Works trains staff, “exercises” flood gate #1 Wednesday

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 12, 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Public Works Street Department spent Wednesday morning training staff and exercising Mississippi Drive Structure #1. The flood gate is located adjacent to the seawall at the eastern end of Mississippi Drive.

Tyson Wedekind, Roadway Maintenance Supervisor, stated that just four of the current staff had participated in a previous installation of the floodgate so the training was needed to get all staff up to speed on the deployment procedures for the gate.

Exercising the flood gate involves the installation of each piece of the structure, physical inspection of each piece and accomplishing repairs as needed, and dismantling and proper storage of each piece of the structure. Training was supervised by staff members who had participated in a previous installation.

Annual drills (exercises) are conducted to retain familiarity with the mechanics and manpower requirements of installing closure structures in years when the actual need to close does not occur. Sporadic intervals of personnel turnover make drills extremely necessary. Conduct gate closure drills on Mississippi Drive Structure #1 and on East 2nd Street Structure #2. The structure on East 2 nd Street was cleaned and exercised on March 15.

Flood gates were removed from 5th Street in 2006 when the bridge was elevated, therefore, no action is required at 5th Street. Two other flood gates cross CP Rail tracks including one across from the bluff on Mississippi Drive, and the other just south of Washington Street on the spur towards HeinzKraft.

The Mississippi River is currently at 14.33 feet and is expected to rise to 15.3 feet by next Tuesday. The current forecast is for the Mississippi to reach minor (16 feet) to moderate (18 feet) flood stage by the first week of May. A level of 18 feet would affect most of the parking area inside Riverside Park.

Watch a video of the procedure at https://youtu.be/lAtsmIy7IcI.

To comment, provide a suggestion, or notify the city of an issue please visit MUSCATINE CONNECT, powered by SeeClickFix, or download the app from the Apple App store or Google Play. For more information visit CITIZEN REQUEST. Citizens also have the option, if they have a comment or concern, to email feedback@muscatineiowa.gov or pwrequest@muscatineiowa.gov.

Tags Department, Iowa –, morning, Muscatine, public, spent, Street, training, Wednesday, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City to assist with tree debris removal this week

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 27, 2023

MUSCATINE – Iowa – Crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW) will be collecting tree and limb debris this week (March 27-31) that are the result of fallen tree branches (and in some cases whole trees) from last Saturday’s heavy, wet snow. Residents who have tree debris they would like the City to collect curbside need to call DPW (563-263-8933) to be placed on a list.

Residents can also contact DPW through the Muscatine Connect application powered by SeeClickFix on the residents’ smartphone or using their personal computer, laptop, or tablet and click MUSCATINE CONNECT for a direct link to the page. The app is available from the Apple App Store and from GooglePlay.

The debris needs to be placed curbside and within the following guidelines.

Smaller tree limbs need to be cut in four-foot lengths and bundled with string or cord;
Larger tree limbs (up to 10 inches in diameter) needs to be cut in no longer than 10-foot lengths;
Other larger tree debris will be collected (except for tree roots and stumps) if trimmed into small sections;
Bundles, larger tree limbs, and other tree debris needs to be placed curbside;
Contact Public Works (563-263-8933) to be placed on a list for curbside collection of larger tree limbs and larger tree debris;

REGULAR CURBSIDE YARD WASTE COLLECTION

The City of Muscatine continues to offer curbside pickup of grass clippings, leaves, and garden waste placed in City of Muscatine Yard Waste bags. These will be collected by the Solid Waste Division on the residents’ regular refuse collection day.

Bags, tree limbs, and other trimmings should be placed near the refuse container on the day of scheduled pickup. Bags are available at Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Main Street, Fareway, and at the Muscatine Transfer Station when that facility is open to the public.

Yard waste bags that have store brand names on them will not be picked up curbside, but can be taken to the Compost Facility for disposal.

Visit Yard Waste Collection for more details.

COMPOST FACILITY IS OPEN

Residents will also be able to bring brush and branches less than 10 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length to the Muscatine Compost Facility at the Muscatine Transfer Station on South Houser Street. Larger trees and logs can also be taken to the location but tree stumps or roots are not accepted. All material brought to the compost facility needs to be secured during transportation to the compost site as loose material may fall onto city streets causing traffic hazards or damage to vehicles.

The Compost Facility is located at 1000 South Houser Street in Muscatine and open from 12-5 p.m. Sunday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays. Non-residents and commercial users of the Compost Facility will be charged a fee for yard waste brought to the site.

Visit Compost Facility for more details and to view the fee schedule for non-resident and for commercial users.

Tags collecting, Crews, Department, from, Iowa –, Muscatine, public, tree, will, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Washington Street closed at River Road for culvert repair

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 20, 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Department of Public Works will close Washington Street at the River Road intersection Tuesday through Friday (March 21-24), weather depending, to replace a culvert. Public Works received a drainage complaint from residents in the area of the intersection and an investigation found that the culvert under Washington Street had collapsed.

A road closure is necessary to remove and replace the culvert. Since Washington is an asphalt street, the patch will be temporarily backfilled with asphalt millings and the street reopened to traffic. Once the hot-mix asphalt plants are open, a permanent patch will replace the temporary patch.

Access to residences on Washington Street from Highway 22 to River Road will be maintained but through traffic will not be allowed during the work. Access to River Road will be from the Highway 22 intersection with River Road reduced to one lane near the work area.

Drivers are asked to slow down, to be patient and obey all traffic control devices.

Tags close, Department, Iowa –, Muscatine, public, River, Street, Washington, will, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Floodgate passes test; ready for use if needed

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 15, 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Department of Public Works “exercised” the flood gate on 2nd Street at Mad Creek Wednesday (March 15) as part of a staff training exercise and in preparation for potential floods this spring and summer.

“We have a lot of new people that have never been involved with closing this flood gate and a few that have only done it one time,” Tyson Wedekind, Roadway Maintenance Supervisor, said. “This was good training and a good exercise of the gate in case we have to close it for real in the case of a major flood event.”

The City of Muscatine closed East 2nd Street from Oak Street to Highway 92 and detoured traffic onto East 5th Street as the gate was moved into place, connecting and completing the flood wall that separates Mad Creek and HNI Corp.

Maintenance of the flood gate is conducted annually prior to the start of the spring flood season.

PHOTO GALLERY

Tags “exercised”, Creek, Department, flood, gate, Iowa –, Muscatine, public, Street, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City to close 2nd Street Wednesday for flood gate maintenance

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 13, 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Department of Public Works is planning to exercise the flood gate on 2nd Street at Mad Creek as part of a training exercise and flood preparedness plan.

The City of Muscatine plans to close East 2nd Street from Oak Street to Highway 92 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, as the gate is moved into place to complete the flood wall and then moved back to its storage location.

The detour for the street closure will be to use East 5th Street from either Park Avenue or from Oak Street.

Maintenance of the flood gate is usually conducted annually prior to the start of the spring flood season. The National Weather Service has indicated that there is a well above normal risk for flooding in their 2023 Spring Flood Outlook with the highest potential for moderate flooding (above 18 feet) the last two weeks of April.

Tags Department, exercise, flood, gate, Iowa –, Muscatine, planning, public, Street, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Public comment sought on moving two bus shelters

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date February 22, 2023

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Transit Division (MuscaBus) of the Department of Public Works is seeking public comment on a proposal to move two bus shelters in Muscatine. Public comments will be taken from Feb. 23 through March 9 by calling MuscaBus at 563-263-8152 or by emailing Transit Supervisor Amy Fortenbacher at afortenbacher@muscatineiowa.gov.

The first bus shelter that is proposed to be moved is at the intersection of Liberty and Warren streets. The shelter is currently located on Liberty Street but will be moved around the corner to Warren Street. The move will accommodate the addition of the pedestrian/bike trail that is being installed as part of the street/sidewalk reconstruction in the area.

The second bus shelter is currently located on East 5th Street just east of the Mulberry Avenue intersection. The Transit Division proposes to relocate the shelter closer to residential housing on Bloomington Lane. The current MuscBus stop on Bloomington Lane between Sunset Park and the Muscatine Soccer Complex does not have a shelter.

The 5th Street location has not been used as a bus shelter, but used more as a place to congregate and smoke.

If you would like to leave a comment or would like additional information, please call MuscaBus at 563-263-8152 or email Transit Supervisor Amy Fortenbacher at afortenbacher@muscatineiowa.gov.

The public comment period is open Feb. 23 through March 9.

INFORMATION FLYER

Tags Department, division, Iowa –, MuscaBus, Muscatine, public, seeking, Transit, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Online surplus auction scheduled for January

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date December 27, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine Department of Public Works (DPW) will conduct an on-line public surplus auction January 4, 2023, through January 18, 2023. Randy Moeller, Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Muscatine, has indicated that two surplus pickup trucks will be available.

All items are available to bid on through the auction web site www.publicsurplus.com starting January 4, 2023, and running through 3 p.m. on January 18, 2023. Potential bidders can go to that website, search for Iowa, and then City of Muscatine for the auction items. You must register to view items and to bid on items.

Tags City, conduct, Department, Iowa –, Muscatine, online, public, will, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City preparing for potential winter storm later this week

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date December 19, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Department of Public Works was out coating the streets of Muscatine with brine in anticipation of a potential winter storm that could move into the area Wednesday night through Saturday.

“Crews were out today spreading salt and brine on city streets,” Brian Stineman, Public Works Director said. “This storm, if it arrives as currently forecasted, has the potential to bring a lot of snow and high winds into the area.”

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for Muscatine County at 2:42 p.m. Monday indicating that heavy snow is possible with accumulations of 5-10 inches and wind gusts as high as 50 mph. Blizzard conditions will also be possible with extreme cold wind chills as well. The watch is in effect from late Wednesday night through late Friday night.

Very cold temperatures will also arrive late in the week and, combined with the wind, could create wind chill values dropping to as low as 25 to 35 below at times.

Stineman indicated that there is a potential for the City of Muscatine to declare a Snow Emergency, which would be the first under the revised Snow Emergency Ordinance.

“We will be watching the weather forecast and will make a decision Wednesday afternoon,” Stineman said. “We do urge residents to make preparations and locate off-street parking for their vehicles as the storm arrives.”

According to the revised code, when weather conditions warrant the declaration of a snow emergency motor traffic will be expedited and parking on City of Muscatine streets will be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes. Public notice will be provided prior to the implementation of a Snow Emergency declaration.

During a declared snow emergency, no person shall park, or allow to remain parked, any vehicle on any portion of a Snow Emergency route. Here is a MAP of the Snow Emergency routes.

Once a Snow Emergency ends there is still the possibility of parking restrictions as Department of Public Works crews push back the snow to the curb.

The Snow Push Back policy would be implemented, if needed, once snow removal operations are complete to the appropriate levels of service on all Class I, Class II, and Class III roadways. See SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY for the classifications of different roadways.

Residents will be provided 24-hour notice prior to the implementation of the Snow Push Back policy’s odd-even parking plan. See SNOW PUSH BACK POLICY for more information on parking restrictions.

The National Weather Service reminds residents that travel could be difficult with widespread blowing snow that could significantly reduce visibility. The cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Tags brine, coating, Department, Iowa –, Muscatine, public, streets, with, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City working to catch up in leaf collection

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date November 28, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The fall leaf collection program conducted by the Department of Public Works (DPW) is behind schedule for the second round, and are still working to collect leaves in Zone 6, one of the most heavily tree ladened zones in the city. Once Zone 6, DPW crews will move into Zone 7 and then to Zone 8 to complete the second round.

Two crews are currently working in Zone 6 with a third truck anticipated to join the effort once personnel can be allocated to crew the truck from other projects.

Residents who have already raked their leaves to the curb are asked to be patient and that city crews will collect the deposited leaves as they move through each zone. An additional round of collection through the eight city zones is dependent on the weather.

Additional announcements will be made as the trucks move into additional zones. Residents are asked to be patient as the effort continues. For additional information or if you have questions, please email feedback@muscatineiowa.gov.

Tags Collection, conducted, Department, fall, Iowa –, leaf, Muscatine, program, public, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Fall leaf collection resumes after pause for winter weather

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date November 17, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The fall leaf collection program was resumed by the Department of Public Works (DPW) Thursday after pausing for the past three days due to the winter weather that moved through Muscatine earlier this week.

Snow and ice control take precedence over all other work as trucks are outfitted with plows and salt boxes prior to the arrival of winter weather. Once the control efforts have been completed, the DPW trucks are washed down due to the accumulation of salt and put back into regular service.

One leaf vacuum truck was out Thursday with one more truck joining the effort on Friday according to DPW officials. Leaf collection completed Zone 5 Thursday and will start in Zone 6 Friday working through zones 7 and 8 to complete the second round.

Tags Collection, Department, fall, Iowa –, leaf, Muscatine, program, public, resumed, Works

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Traffic Alert: East 5th Street closure begins Thursday (May 12)

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date May 11, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW) have been hard at work this week repairing soft spots on Robin Road, and that work will shift to East 5th Street on Thursday.

The 2021-2022 Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay Project is set to resume the week of May 16 with two street sections receiving attention this week from the DPW Street Maintenance Division ahead of receiving new asphalt.

Brandt Construction Company will resume milling and putting down an asphalt overlay four street segments and four alley segments as part of the 2021-22 project that is to be completed this spring.

The Street Maintenance Division has been repairing soft spots on Robin Road since Monday and will switch to East 5th Street Thursday. Lane restrictions on Robin Road are in place where work is being undertaken.

Meanwhile East 5th Street will be closed to all traffic starting Thursday (May 12) from Mulberry to Orange where most of the soft spots are located. Additional soft spots from Orange to Cypress Streets will also be repaired by DPW crews. Some additional closures and lane restrictions will be implemented over the next three weeks as repairs, milling, and asphalt overlay work on East 5th Street is completed. Work is tentatively scheduled to be completed by June 3, weather permitting.

A detour map is posted on the City of Muscatine website or available by clicking 5th Street Detour.

Muscatine Power & Water (MPW) has completed the replacement of a water main on Fair Acres Drive from Bidwell Road to Crestline Drive, with that section scheduled to be the first street segment to receive an asphalt overlay by Brandt Construction. The schedule for the other street segments will depend on the repairs to the soft spots on Robin Road (Bidwell Road to Sunrise Circle) and East 5th Street (Mulberry to Cypress). The other street segment that is part of the current contract is Bartlett Street (Mulberry to Cedar).

Four alley segments will also be completed in the next two months including the alley between Lincoln Boulevard and Grand Avenue (from Clay to Jackson), the alley between Lake Park Boulevard and McArthur Street (from 2nd Avenue to Lake Park Boulevard), the alley between Taylor and Clinton streets (from New Hampshire to Hershey), and the alley between Mary Place and Orchard Avenue (Orchard Avenue to the Dead End).

Lane restrictions will be in place while Brandt Construction mills the streets and alleys, and during the asphalt overlay process. Drivers are urged to use caution when in construction areas and obey traffic control devices and flaggers.

Drivers are reminded to slow down and use caution when travelling through construction zones, obey traffic control devices, and be aware of construction workers. Use an alternate route if possible.

Click on CONSTRUCTION to visit the Department of Public Works Construction Projects page where more information can be found on City of Muscatine construction projects.

An interactive map is available showing current street closures and street work.

If you have a comment or concern, please email feedback@muscatineiowa.gov or pwrequest@muscatineiowa.gov. A staff member will respond within 24 hours.

Tags – Have, been, Crews, Department, from, hard, Iowa –, Muscatine, public, Works