Galena lays out multi-year CIP: street repaving, water upgrades and contaminated-soil risk

City Administrator Matt Olenberg used the work session to walk the council through a multi-year capital-improvement plan that emphasizes street repaving, water-main and stormwater upgrades, wastewater plant controls replacement and several downtown sidewalk and access projects.

On wastewater controls, Olenberg said the plant’s PLCs and variable frequency drives are more than two decades old and quoted a combined replacement estimate of roughly $750,000. "Last year we did $170,000 of that to do the VFD upgrades at the plant... This year I'm proposing another 365 grand to do the next phase which is all the PLC computers in there," he said, adding a final “nugget” will cover lift-station radios and remaining components to integrate the system.

Street and stormwater work described included Hill Street and Elm Street water-main and sewer projects that delayed paving last year, Hickory stormwater curb and gutter, White Street retaining-wall and sidewalk repairs, and a Southwest Street water main replacement project budgeted for about $125,000. Olenberg said the city has a five-year paving plan that totals about $4 million in improvements over the next five years, with $625,000 planned for street repaving this year.

Sidewalk improvements and downtown accessibility were also discussed. The city is working with a private property owner to complete a Galena Square connection: Olenberg said the city is committing $30,000 plus a tax abatement to build a sidewalk link from a highway multi-use path to Irvine Street. He also detailed a $220,000 bicentennial playground project, with $70,000 in donations, leaving $150,000 in city funds.

Environmental and contract risks appeared when Olenberg described an Army Corps of Engineers storm-sewer project: soil borings found elevated arsenic, lead and mercury. "If that's encountered while they're doing their excavations, we'll be responsible for the soil removal," he said; the FY27 budget includes $20,000 to cover potential contaminated-soil disposal while the Corps covers the majority of the stormwater work.

Council members asked about rate pressure and long-term funding. Olenberg said staff have requested a water and sewer rate study from the consultant Strand and that garbage contract costs are currently being offset by the city (an estimated $7 per household per month), suggesting the council may later consider rate adjustments to sustain infrastructure work.

The presentation included a list of prioritized projects for 2027 and beyond: Franklin Street is targeted for substantial reconstruction next year with $900,000 planned in capital projects to address stormwater, safe routes to school and water-main replacement; future years will cover remaining residential grids and separate sewer and water main replacement projects prior to paving.

Olenberg closed by saying the CIP aims to spend reserves down where appropriate rather than overtaxing residents, and that the city will pursue outside funding and county partnerships for larger projects such as the proposed police parking structure.