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Public Hearing Set for Keokuk Sewer

Keokuk is moving ahead with a multi-million dollar sewer project.

The city council has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, July 18 for the Victory Park sewer separation project.

Raw sewage is able to reach the Mississippi River at four locations in the park during heavy rain.

Public Works Director Mark Bousselot says about 8,000 linear feet of sanitary and storm-water sewer line will be installed as part of the project.

He says riverfront traffic will have to be rerouted during construction, which is scheduled to get underway this fall.

Completion is slated for late 2014.

Mayor Tom Marion says Keokuk remains on track to separate its combined sewer system in time to comply with a consent order between the city and the EPA.

The Victory Park project is expected to cost about $5.4-million, though Marion is hopeful the bids will come in much lower.

MANHOLE WORK CONTINUES

Meanwhile, the Keokuk City Council has again chosen not to cancel a contract with a local firm.
    
Public Works Director Mark Bousselot says John W. Sammons Construction has basically completed the installation of about 30 manholes.

He says a few items on the final checklist remain uncompleted, though, including grading, seeding and clean-up.

Mayor Tom Marion says because of that, the city will continue to charge $200/day as a late fee because the work was supposed to be completed last fall.

The company has accrued nearly $38,000 in late fees on the nearly $600,000 contract.

A resolution to cancel the contract has been on the city council’s last three agendas.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.