Council backs $150,000 in shoreline work at Lake Mitchell to match state project

Mitchell City Council approved a staff plan to stabilize two city-owned shoreline sections around Lake Mitchell left exposed after state work removed trees and vegetation.

Councilmember Marty, who raised the issue, said crews removed trees for the state's adjacent project and that the city's shoreline now shows erosion and material sloughing into the lake. "It looks very bad," he said, urging the city to complete the rockwork so the shoreline matches the state project's finished sections.

Staff estimated the work would likely require rock or riprap and that material costs would be the primary expense; staff and a state engineer recommended matching the state’s riprap work so the finished shoreline would have a consistent appearance. City staff said a planning-level figure of $150,000 would be needed to stabilize the two sections and allow the city to bid the project. City engineer staff said the farms of material and access method (from above or below) would affect the final cost but that $150,000 was a reasonable planning estimate.

Council direction: members expressed support for completing the work now rather than waiting until a future lake-draining project (which has an uncertain timeline). Council indicated preference for bidding the work so it could be constructed to match the state’s appearance. Staff will prepare design documents and a formal bid.

Outcome: Council voiced broad support in session and directed staff to proceed with design and procurement; the work was discussed as a near-term capital project and budgeted at the $150,000 planning estimate.