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Blair council approves River Road trail design, mill-and-overlay contract and other measures
Summary
At its July 14 meeting, the Blair City Council unanimously approved six resolutions: a volunteer firefighter appointment, design work for the River Road Connector Trail, award of the 2026 mill-and-overlay contract, a final amendment for the water-treatment plant, an on-call flood/FEMA engineering agreement, and a letter of intent with Lutheran Family Services on a property replat.
The Blair City Council on July 14 unanimously adopted six resolutions covering appointments, infrastructure projects and engineering agreements.
Mayor Mindy Rump opened the meeting and the council approved the consent agenda before taking up individual items.
The council adopted resolution 2026-076, approving Chastity Hahn as a new member of the Blair Volunteer Fire Department. Fire Chief Dave Aton, introducing the nomination, said Hahn ‘‘has worked her tail off the years that she's been there’’ and praised her service and family connection to the department.
The council approved resolution 2026-077 to authorize supplemental agreement No. 3 with JEO Consulting Group for the River Road Connector Trail. City staff member Heaton said the project is tied to a federal grant (initially referenced as about $1.7 million) and that the amendment for full design work is $200,973.95, bringing JEO’s total to $221,768.15. Heaton said the federal grant entails an 80/20 split, so the city’s share would be roughly 20% of eligible costs.
Council members also voted to receive bids and then award the 2026 mill-and-overlay contract by adopting resolution 2026-078. Staff opened the bid tab and Heaton recommended Omni Engineering as the low bidder; Heaton summarized the three bids and said the low bid would allow the city to complete both A and B portions of the project this year.
Resolution 2026-079, approving amendment No. 10 to HDR Engineering’s agreement for the Water Treatment Plant Phase 5 expansion, was adopted. Heaton described the $45,007.29 amendment as largely ‘‘catch-up’’ work covering redundancy on an added main, ventilation and other finish items as phase 5 wraps up.
The council also adopted resolution 2026-080, authorizing an on-call agreement with Houston Engineering not to exceed $150,000 to assist with floodplain certifications, FEMA paperwork and other engineering needs stemming from last August’s storm. Heaton said some of that engineering work could be eligible for FEMA reimbursement at rates Heaton described as up to 75% for tied work.
Finally, the council approved resolution 2026-081, authorizing a letter of intent with Lutheran Family Services regarding the replatting of part of Lot 81 (Transformation Hill addition) and dedication of a public alley. Staff noted the parcel has generated maintenance concerns and said Lutheran Family Services has indicated a willingness to donate the strip; a public commenter asked to postpone the item because it was added to the agenda within 24 hours, and staff replied that state statute permits additions within that window when posted appropriately.
Votes at a glance: each resolution was adopted with all council members present voting aye, as recorded during roll call votes.
The meeting closed after a brief staff update and an adjournment motion that passed unanimously.
