Cascade council backs grant applications for Third Avenue SW and Hayes Street SW reconstruction; consultant pegs cost at about $1.6 million

At its March 10, 2025 meeting, the Cascade City Council heard a detailed plan and cost estimate for reconstructing Third Avenue Southwest and Hayes Street Southwest and authorized staff to apply for two grants to help fund the work.

Jake Deaver, a consultant with MSA in Dubuque, presented the concept for a residential street reconstruction that would replace aging utilities and rebuild the roadway. "The concept was built around, basically, residential street reconstruction. We assume 31 foot back to back with 5 foot curbside walk on the west and north side of the street," Deaver said. He described replacing an existing 4-inch water main with an 8-inch main, replacing sanitary sewer manholes and mains, extending or replacing water and sanitary laterals to the property line and replacing storm sewer components along the corridor.

The consultant gave a cost breakdown: roughly $800,000 for roadway and storm construction and about $500,000 for sanitary sewer and water main upgrades, plus a 25% engineering contingency. "We're looking total project cost like 1,600,000.0 for that 4 and a half blocks," Deaver said.

City Administrator Deanna McCusker told the council she planned to apply for a Hinson fiscal 26 community project funding grant that is due Wednesday at 5:00 a.m. "So I'm going to apply for that, and we can apply for the almost the whole project," McCusker said, adding the city could use roughly $300,000 of local option funds as matching dollars. She also said staff had reached out about bond options if the grant is not awarded; under one scenario the city could borrow about $1.2 million over 10 years while keeping annual payments roughly the same as current debt service.

Council members and staff discussed design constraints and on-the-ground issues that could affect cost and schedule. Deaver noted the right-of-way through the corridor is about 40 feet, which constrains placement of sidewalks and parking. He identified two existing retaining walls at 304 and 412 Hayes Street SW and said crews might need temporary access across private property to regrade yards and remove or avoid the walls. Deaver also said a large tree at 513 South Ave SW may need removal or special handling.

The presentation included measures intended to address recurring water-quality complaints for the area: replacing the undersized 4-inch main with an 8-inch backbone and tying into newer mains at either end of the project to reduce water age and improve flow. "If we get a new backbone, an 8 inch through there, there, it should help with some of the water age in that section of town," Deaver said.

After the presentation the council approved Resolution 29-25, authorizing filing the Hinson fiscal 26 community project funding grant application, and Resolution 31-25, authorizing filing a Dubuque County RCTP grant application (up to $25,000) to assist with the project. Both motions passed on roll call votes with all councilmembers voting in favor.

Council members asked staff to bring financing details back to a future meeting; McCusker said she would discuss financing options in the council's next agenda item. The council also directed staff to continue coordination with public works on right-of-way, tree and property-access issues before proceeding with final design.

Project proponents said additional design and property coordination will be required before construction can begin, and the council will act on final design, contract awards and any borrowing at later meetings.