Portions of Creston streets to get improved

Routes through town later this summer are expected to be detoured as sections of three Creston streets undergo improvements.

Approved during Tuesday’s Creston City Council meeting, approval was for $63,071 to be added to the fiscal year 2023 street project budget. City Administrator Mike Taylor said Grimes Asphalt and Paving of Des Moines will resurface the following streets:

Elm Street, between Mills and Summit streets.

Sycamore Street, between Adams and Levy streets.

Park Street, from Creston Waterworks office to the railroad overpass.

Taylor said streets will be blocked during the work which is expected to start in late July and last two to three weeks.

In other street related news, council approved vacating the alley south of Mills Street between Palm and Ash streets and Montgomery Street east of Palm. The address is known as 1100 E. Mills. The area is for the city’s new public works building. Council approved to wave the third reading and pass the ordinance.

Council approved pay increases for non-bargaining unit, non-probationary, full-time and part-time permanent employees. Council member Rich Madison abstained.

Street department employee T.J. Parsons told council 473 employee hours were used to clean up streets and tree debris after the June 7 storm. The city was assisted by Union County and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Council members were appreciative of the clean up efforts.

In other council action:

Bobby Wintermute was approved as the town’s code compliance officer. He is expected to start in early July.

Approval was made to purchase a vacuum sampler for $7,392 for the water treatment plant. A John Deere loader for $4,300 for the cemetery also passed.

A public hearing was scheduled for 6 p.m. July 19 for the construction of fencing and road drainage work at the airport.

Council approved temporary street closures from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2 for the Greater 8 and 5K Event. Portions of McKinley, Adams, Stone, Spillway Road and Lakeshore Drive will be used for the course.

Spotlight School of Dance will have a glow ride for students and supporters at 8:30 p.m., July 14. The ride begins at McKinley Park and will include the walking trail to the dance studio on Townline. Volunteers will be at street crossings. No streets will be closed during the ride.

Council members Brenda Lyell-Keate and Steve Wintermute were not in attendance.