Rules make Old Man’s Creek project cumbersome

WILLIAMSBURG — The construction of a water treatment plant gave Williamsburg the incentive to make improvements to Old Man’s Creek.

But state regulations have been a headache — and a huge expense.

“When you borrow money from the state revolving fund …, you can pay them the interest, or they’ll give it back to you to do a water quality initiative,” said Williamsburg City Manager Aaron Sandersfeld.

Williamsburg used money from that fund for the new wastewater plant and decided to use the interest money to improve Old Man’s Creek, the watershed that runs through town.

“We’re kind of using it as a foundation to work with the property owners in the future … to expand our trail project someday,” said Sandersfeld.

Phase 2 of the trail is not yet complete, but the Old Man Creek’s project could be a steppingstone for what might be phase 3.

The project would stabilize the creek bank, straighten out some large bends in the creek and stop erosion by planting vegetation in the form of native plants.

The project will concentrate on about six areas of the creek between the bridge on Highway 149 next to J & S Farm Supply west nearly to Hampton Way.

“The project won’t go all the way out to the end of the city limits,” said Sandersfeld. “It gets pretty close.

“Obviously we signed up for this several years ago,” said Sandersfeld. “The state does not offer this any more. I wouldn’t go through it again knowing what I know now,” he said.

The City hired engineering firm HR Green, of Cedar Rapids, which sent a survey crew out. “I think they surveyed the entire Old Man’s Creek, from city limit to city limit,” said Sandersfeld.

Including the entire length in the project would cost $17 million, engineers told the city. “We have $1 million to work with,” said Sandersfeld.

The original contract with HR Green for engineering services was less than $100,000, but three amendments have put the engineering costs at $197,000.

The city council postponed approval of the third amendment to the contract until it could get an explanation of what Sandersfeld thought was an excessive amount.

“The problem is, there’s so much to this,” said Sandersfeld after talking to HR Green. The engineers have to meet with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and agencies governing wetlands, and they have to make sure there are no Indian burial grounds in the area.

“There’s a lot of hoops that you have to jump through,” said Sandersfeld.

“Honestly I think that’s why they’re not doing them anymore. They’re so cumbersome.”

Still, Sandersfeld said it should be a good project.

In addition to working with the engineering firm and with state agencies, the city has the cooperation of property owners Tim Jones and Tom Belland.

“I think they’re both excited about it,” said Sandersfeld. “They’ve both talked about the future trail project.”

Williamsburg learned several years ago when it worked on community strategic planning that a trail system is important to its residents.

The Old Man’s Creek project will see that no more land erodes so the city can “end up with something nice,” said Sandersfeld.

“It’s going to be a nice deal for the property owners and eventually for the community.”