McKinley construction almost over

After more than a year of dredging, construction work is almost complete at McKinley Lake. Last Tuesday, Mark Jacobs of Houston Engineering shared with Creston City Council what final touches are needed before the project has been accomplished.

In a walkthrough by engineers and city officials Friday, March 13, a punch list was created to finalize construction. Items on the list include general cleanup work, the placement of bollards and seeding the spoil site. However, another item was unexpectedly added to the list by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“The design intent was to install a kayak launch,” Jacobs said. “The DNR has since requested that we consider the kayak launch for almost a dual-purpose boat ramp, specifically for their access of their maintenance boat that they use to survey the lake once a year.”

Creston City Administrator Mike Taylor said the DNR having access to the lake was important both for the completion of the fish habitat and for later maintenance.

“I think when Andy [Jansen] and the fisheries guys saw that it may be difficult to enter that with their boat... We’ve talked about that being a fishing lake when it’s done and it’s what’s going to draw people and they need to get in there on a regular basis and monitor the fish growth and how it’s working throughout their spawning beds,” Taylor said. “The way it is now, I don’t think they feel like they can get in there the right way.”

While a ramp may be added to the lake, this is meant simply for DNR use. McKinley Lake will remain a non-motorized boat lake.

Since the suggestion was only recently made, Jacobs said there is no suggested design or idea on a price yet. However, the DNR would continue their commitment to paying half the cost.

“It’s tough to know [a cost] at this point, but our design intent is to address that concern with the least amount of cost that we can,” Jacobs said. “We have some alternatives that we’re discussing internally to address that, just with some additional grading and some rocks.”

Aside from the ramp and the punch list items, final touches will have to wait until 2027. Before the dock and fish can be added to the lake, the DNR will remove invasive species. Once the invasive species are removed, the lake can be filled with water and the fish and dock will be added.

“The dock, if I understand right, the manufacturer wants it assembled when the lake is full of water,” Taylor said. “Andy talked about the fish kills and the timing of that. It’s probably going to be maybe next spring before it’s full enough to put the dock in.”

In other council news...

The designs and final plan for the Community Neighborhood Revitalization Grant projects in Uptown were approved 5-1 by the council. Councilmember Jen Worisek voted against the motion, while Councilmember Toby Henry was absent. With approval, projects can now be sent to bid.

A public hearing has been set regarding proposed documents and estimated costs for improvements to the Creston airport terminal. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, April 21 at 6 p.m.

The council approved a special events application for a Weary Ramblers concert at Rainbow Park, contingent on proof of insurance. The concert is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.