A whole lot of shakin' going on: what's new on all the municipal projects throughout the city

 If you've been paying attention, there's been a lot of work going on
at various places throughout the city. As we get closer to summer's end, I thought I'd bring everyone up to speed on just where we stand with each project.

The new municipal water tower

Perhaps more than anything else this summer I am asked frequently if the new tower is operational yet. The answer is 'no'. Why? Well, I'll share with you what I've been told: the company that painted the tower (both inside and out) painted the insides a bit too thickly. Apparently, it's a safety concern so they had to sandblast the thing on the inside to remove a layer or two.

Having said this, I'm told that they will begin disinfecting the tank and filling it on August 13-14. About a week later samples will be taken and pending those results we will be fully functional come August 20. I can't wait.

The Gotham Sports Complex

Construction began right around Memorial Day and has proceeded right along with no real hiccups to speak of. The asphalt and cement were laid, the fencing posts were erected and the fencing installed. On Monday, all the basketball poles and backboards were installed. The courts, both Pickleball and Basketball/Tennis, will be painted as you read this. All things are on course to be finalized in time for our September 14 ribbon-cutting. If we have a fall like last year very shortly you should hear the plink-plunk of pickleball and thumping of basketballs coming from a sports complex on City Park Drive. I can't wait.

The 38-acres/Swiderski development

from SC Swiderski-Chetek

While the earthmovers have yet to show up on the grounds of the old
breeder farm on Knapp Street, we are currently firming up plans for the ground-breaking ceremony set to occur on Tuesday, August 26 from 12-1 pm. Once they break ground, S.C. Swiderski promises to complete the project within two years. Contrary to the rumor mill this will not be low-income housing or – curiously – housing for illegal aliens. Nope. This is a 116-unit housing development, primarily rentals, that hopefully will attract new residents to our community. If you want to see the scope of it, check out the video at SCSwiderski-Chetek

Back in December, Swiderski representatives gave a presentation at the city council meeting that was reported by the Chetek Alert. According to that article, apart from the four

single-family homes the rest of the 116 units will be rentals in various floor plans generally ranging between $1,100-$1,850 per month and to include heat, water, sewer, cable, WIFI, trash removal and lawn care. I can't wait.

The old Waste Water Treatment Plant

This past spring demolition began at the old Wastewater Treatment
Plant (WWTP). If you've dropped off your recycling lately you may have noticed that that project has come to a standstill. What gives? Apparently tearing down an old WWTP is a little bit more involved than, say, tearing down most other structures. One factor that can complicate demolition is that by law, the ground on which the plant stood has to be deposited in a safe manner. I'm assured that they're working the problem and sooner than later the job will be completed. I can't wait.

Original picture courtesy of Mark Peterson
(SBR circled in red)

The new Waste Water Treatment Plant

Thought we were done with that project? Of course, we are. But a
design challenge presents itself. The Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) – the structure that is in the field immediately to the south of the plant – needs a cover for it to prevent freezing of water lines to it. This was something that our guys dealt with all last spring. Why wasn't it part of the original project? you may ask. There is a longer explanation but the short answer is the engineers didn't think we needed one. But now it appears that we do. Public Works Director Drew Smith informed the council last month that it is his recommendation that we pursue construction of such a dome over the SBR to prevent freeze-ups this coming winter. The hope is that we can go to bid sooner than later and have it covered before the real cold weather settles in. I can't wait.

While the Canadian wildfires have been the source of the unsettling haze in our air this past summer, the dust of these combined projects should be a welcome sign to us that stuff is gettin' done as Jerry Lee Lewis would put it 'cause a whole lot of shakin' is going on. And yeah, just like you, I can't wait for these things to be good and done.