A much better street

Months of discussion regarding improving the street in downtown Royal may soon come to fruition, as the city council agreed on June 12 to finalize plans and financing for the project next month.

Mayor Josh Toft and Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen met with two paving contractors to discuss options for upgrading Main Street. Each contractor had a different approach to addressing the scope of the project.

Fuller & Sons Blacktop Paving recommended milling 8-10 feet from each side to the center of the street, repaving the milled area with asphalt and laying a one-inch overlay on top of the center portion. The area involved would be from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue, along with intersections.

The Ruthven company also recommended patching spots in three other streets.

"I would consider his bid to be $150,000-$180,000," Toft said.

Blacktop Service Co., of Humboldt, offered another approach. They recommend milling four inches off the entire width of Main Street and laying back the same depth of new asphalt. They also quoted a price for street patching two other locations.

Their bid of $215,000 is for all work, which could be completed later this year.

"That is a much, much better Main Street than the other guy was proposing," Toft said.

"I'd be afraid of where the new and new match with the old, we would have seepage there," Council Member Jeff Van Westen said of Fuller & Son's proposal.

Blacktop Services indicated that with normal traffic, the new Main Street surface should last approximately 20 years.

• Financing options

City Clerk Barb Fletcher suggested a way to finance a portion of the cost. The water utility fund currently has a balance of over $135,400. Since the city no longer operates the utility, the council could designate $130,400 as street improvement funds.

"That would give you a nice start to pay for it," she said.

According to discussion, the city also has $17,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The council must designate how that balance will be used by Dec. 31.

The remaining cost of the project could be paid with road use tax funds, which are to be used for street-related purposes.

The council agreed to further consider both paving options, and authorized Fletcher to have a resolution prepared for designating water utility funds for street improvements.

Toft acknowledged that paving with asphalt would not be as good an option as concrete, but he still believes Royal would have a good Main Street.

"That will be a huge difference," he said.

• Hometown Pride program

Royal will be one of 10 area communities to join the Hometown Pride program. They will provide matching funds, based on population, in order to participate. Royal's annual share is $259.

Funds contributed by those communities will be used to employ a professional "community coach" who works with a committee of local residents to implement a community improvement program. Toft said the committee will comprised of 4-7 people who will work to carry out the community's vision.

According to Keep Iowa Beautiful, the Hometown Pride program empowers communities to cultivate local leadership, enhance community amenities, foster civic pride, boost economic vitality, and increase collaboration between local government, non-profit organizations and businesses.

• Property sale, other business

In other business, the council agreed to move forward with the sale of a property on Long Street. The city attorney will prepare a resolution setting out terms and conditions of the sale, including a minimum bid of $3,000.

After discussion, information regarding five properties will be forwarded to Northwest Iowa Planning and Development for further nuisance abatement enforcement. The city also sent letters to 25 property owners to address additional issues.

Fletcher and incoming clerk Jill Hickey recommended the clerk's office be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. The new hours will begin on July 1.