Council works through budget, staffing, city projects

MANAWA - Manawa city council and committees worked through infrastructure and budget items at meetings that were rescheduled to last week Thursday due to blizzard Elsa, approving funding measures and seasonal staffing, and reviewing ongoing projects across the city.

Center Street water main fix moves forward
At last week’s meetings, Public Works Director Josh Smith discussed a failing water main on Center Street with repeated breaks in the line. Water main replacement, excavation, street restoration, and curb and gutter work is expected to cost about $90,000.

Because the break has disrupted service and the main is considered too fragile for further patching, the city treated the project as an emergency repair that does not require formal bidding.

The committee and full council approved taking out a $90,000 loan from Premier Bank on a five‑year term at 4.4% interest to cover the project.

Insurance may cover part of the cost, but the city is planning for the full amount and will credit any insurance reimbursement back against the loan if it comes through. Work is expected to take about a week once road weight limits are lifted and the contractor can begin.

Parks staffing and tree planning
To support park maintenance for the upcoming season, the council approved hiring for two part‑time parks positions. One position will be filled by an individual already working for the city and the second will be posted as a seasonal summer role.

Officials also discussed the condition of trees in Triangle Park and Lindsay Park. A large evergreen used for the “Lights of Love” display is now so tall that the city’s bucket truck struggles to reach it, and its growth is beginning to impact nearby infrastructure. Rather than immediately spending city funds on removal and replacement, city officials agreed to reach out to the Triangle Park Committee and the broader community about potential donations or memorial tree plantings to help fund new shade trees.

Separately, committee members reviewed complaints about hazardous trees on private property elsewhere in the city. The discussion focused on how to handle large or dead trees that pose safety risks to neighboring homes and yards.

While no formal action was taken, members signaled support for a contracted, third‑party arborist or forester to assess dangerous trees and for the city to use existing nuisance and cost‑recovery tools when homeowners do not deal with clearly unsafe trees.

Water meter upgrades
Public Works is continuing water meter change-outs and cross‑connection inspections. This year, the city is installing new transmitters that will allow staff at City Hall to read meters remotely without driving routes. The new system is expected to provide early leak alerts so residents can be notified of potential plumbing problems before they receive an unusually high bill.