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Council hears project updates: Osborne School abatement, guardrail, pool chemistry and website redesign
Summary
Staff reported on multiple city projects: asbestos abatement advertising for Osborne School, pedestrian guardrail and sidewalk funding shifts, fleet deliveries and delays, a planned pool chemistry change for 2026 to reduce post-treatment closures, and a council-requested website redesign scoping exercise.
City staff provided the quarterly project update, covering capital projects and several operational items.
Osborne School redevelopment: The Department of Commerce awarded a $225,000 grant for asbestos abatement at the Osborne School site. Staff said asbestos-abatement work was advertised to contractors and a grant extension was secured; bids were expected after the advertisement. The council scheduled a fuller discussion of the Osborne School outdoor area at a future meeting.
Pedestrian and sidewalk projects: Funding moved between multiple TIB (Transportation Improvement Board) or similar grant lines; money originally earmarked for a Central Avenue sidewalk project was reallocated to Commercial Street and to a pedestrian guardrail on Finchem Hill to meet a tight timeline. Staff noted the guardrail work was completed with committed funds and that some sidewalk projects remain unfunded.
Pool operations: Staff described a planned change in pool chemistry/procedures intended to reduce closure time after chemical shocks. Based on a survey of pool users (about 125 responses) and technical advice staff said they received from pool engineers and managers, the city will convert to a chlorinated pool with continuous dosing (a saltwater-based chlorination approach) for the 2026 season to reduce downtime from approximately three days to around 24 hours when remediation is required. Staff will monitor outcomes and report after the next season.
Fleet and equipment: Several ordered vehicles have been delivered (two rangers and a utility truck); two EV SUVs are expected by winter; two large combination dump/sander trucks have been delayed but staff reported vendor Viking City expects corrected box deliveries by the start of the next month and council asked for close follow-up on delivery timing.
Website redesign & other projects: Council asked staff to add a website redesign project to the tracker; staff said they will scope cost and capacity. Staff also reviewed security fencing and permitting timelines for well-field and water-treatment-plant projects, and updated council on parking-improvement planning and a previously-committed TIB guardrail project. Several smaller items (parking parcel decisions, asbestos bid timelines, and grant extensions) were also reported.
No formal council action beyond routine approvals was required for these updates; staff were given direction to proceed with bid advertising, to publish asbestos solicitation materials, and to return with cost estimates and schedules where requested.
