Ivanhoe council reviews pavement analysis, approves maintenance purchases for water and streets

Ivanhoe City Council received an engineering drawing and preliminary pavement analysis from Bolton & Menk and instructed Public Works Director Jim Wright to finalize street ratings with the firm.

Jim Wright presented the report and said he will rate the streets and work with Bolton & Menk on the final ratings. The presentation framed the analysis as a step toward prioritizing capital improvements and budgeting for future street work.

Councilmembers discussed related public works items. Wright reported the purchase of a new snow hauler. He also said staff will reach out to tree-service contractors to remove diseased ash and elm trees when needed.

The council discussed seal coating in coordination with Lincoln County’s highway department; Wright said the city will schedule seal coating when the county’s contractor is available and provided an estimated cost range of $1,200 to $1,400 per block, with work limited to what the city’s budget allows. Wright also reported plans to buy a valve exerciser used for shutoff operations at an estimated cost of $2,500, to be paid from the water fund’s maintenance and repair budget.

Council members noted a filled-in area by the lagoon that they directed be dug out, and Wright said public works had located and repaired water leaks earlier in the week. Wright requested that the Ambulance Department pay half of the garage heating cost for the space where the ambulance is stored; Mayor Shad Lipinski said he would follow up with the Ambulance Department on that request.

The items were presented as informational and operational steps rather than formal policy changes; the council did not take separate votes on the equipment purchases during this meeting other than routine procurement guidance and budget authorization.