City Adopts New Excavation Policy

By ERIC X. VICCARO

eviccaro@stegenherald.com

Contractors must pay attention to new excavation guidelines that were set during Thursday’s regular board of aldermen meeting.

Aldermen approved a change to Chapter 520 of city code, Article II, which covers the excavation of public streets.

The measure passed, 6-0, with Ward 1 Alderman Gary Smith and Ward 2 Alderman Michael “Buck” Jokerst both absent from the proceedings.

In the past, aldermen have been voiced concerns that there was not a “uniform system” on the proper way to repair excavated streets or sidewalks, and passage of this second reading should solve that problem.

Cochran Engineering developed specifications designed to better provide for long-term concrete and asphalt repair – which was reviewed during a May 27 work session.

If the excavated street is concrete, then that’s the material which will be used for replacement, city administrator Happy Welch said.

Asphalt can be replaced with asphalt; however there must be a minimum of six inches of non-reinforced high early strength concrete to serve as a base.

The asphalt must be two inches thick, as specified in the current Missouri standard specifications for highway construction.

If the street is made from a chip-and-seal, replacement with asphalt is the recommendation. There are some streets in Ste. Genevieve that are partially chip-and-seal ones, including North Fourth Street and the entrance into the Valle Springs development.

Welch said the aim of the ordinance is to create a road system that’s in better shape with better materials used.

Copies of both the new asphalt and concrete restoration detail are now available at city hall.

ACTION ITEMS

• Aldermen approved a bid from SR Excavation in the amount of $8,600, for the repair of a storm water pipe in the Valle Springs subdivision.

The storm water pipe was located in the backyard of an unreported Ste. Genevieve resident. The city received two bids for the project.

There was a noticeable separation of pipe detected by an underground camera.

In the project, 160 feet of 12-inch PVC pipe will be installed and grouted in. The completion date for the contract is Sept. 30, 2021.

• The city approved the purchase of a new Zero Turn mower (a Hustler Fastrak) from Flieg’s Equipment, through Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing, in the amount of $5,666. The mower will be used by Alliance Water Systems at the water and sewer plants.

• A broad consent agenda also was approved, including a couple of insurance agreements through locally based Lakenan Insurance.

U.S. Specialty Insurance Company will provide property and casualty insurance for the next year. Property insurance falls under the umbrella of items such as lift stations, city buildings and vehicles, equipment, water towers and city parks. The city has a $5,000 deductible.

The city also entered into an agreement with Travelers Assigned Risk to provide workmen’s compensation coverage.

Welch reported their were six claims turned in during the past year, and that caused the workmen’s compensation premium to double — now $70,000.

As part of the consent agenda, aldermen accepted Welch to act on behalf of the city on any and all related items concerning future American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Bob Mueller with the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve filled out a street closure request to conduct a patriotic Fourth of July event next Sunday, which was approved.

During the event, there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and a salute from the Milice de Ste. Genevieve. Third Street between Market and Merchant Street will be closed from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.