Riverside approves money for splash pad

RIVERSIDE ? The City of Riverside is applying for a Riverboat Foundation grant for $120,000 so it can install a ?splash pad? in Hall Park. A splash pad is an aquatic play area for interaction with fountains without standing water. At its meeting Monday, the council approved a matching grant of $120,000 for the project. Earlier this year, the council approved a budget which included $250,000 for either a splash pad or a concessions stand.

The council heard from Dennis Bush of St. Mary?s Catholic Church, who asked that the city waive a portion of the church?s utility bill because it watered sod on its property, the water from which does not go down the sanitary sewer. According to Riverside City Clerk Missy Carter, the church had a bill for $650 over a three-month period. The council decided not to grant St. Mary?s Catholic Church a waiver because it had not granted a waiver to pool owners who asked for the same thing.  

The council approved a pay estimate of about $560,000 to Streb Construction for turning lane improvements to Highway 22. Carter said that when the project is finished, there will be turning lanes on Highway 22 east of the intersection with Highway 218. The lanes will afford motorists who wish to turn into the businesses on the east edge of town their own lane so that they do not block the traffic behind them that wishes to go straight.

The council approved the final pay estimate to DeLong Construction for about $8,000 for work performed on the Kleopfer Avenue street extension project.

The Riverside Ball Association asked the city permission to install a new backstop for the west field at Hall Park. The ball association is applying for a Riverboat grant for about $7,800. The total cost of the project is estimated at about $12,800. The council approved the ball association?s grant application to the Riverboat Foundation.  

The council will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Schnoebelen Inc. The council will view the property to see if the nuisance on the property has been abated.

Riverside City Hall will receive an upgrade to its locks soon. Carter said Freeman Locks of Iowa City will fix the doors in the building so that they are all on one key.

The last day to file a petition to run for a council seat or the mayor?s seat is Thursday. Papers must be turned in to city hall by 5 p.m. that day. There are three council seats up for election in November: the seat held by Christine Kirkwood, the seat held by Rodney Waldschmidt and the seat held by Todd Yahnke. Mayor Brian McDole?s seat is also up for election. All positions are elected at-large.