Ada —
Water, capital improvement projects and street priorities were discussed at a special called city council meeting Monday.
Discussion concerning water system improvements centered around structural improvements to Ada’s water system.
Ada Mayor Dick Scalf said the estimate for replacing the old waterline — which runs from Byrds Mill Spring to Ada, well improvements, and improvements to the water treatment plant — is around $24 million.
Just the waterline replacement will be $14.8 million.
Scalf said a portion of a one-cent sales tax passed in 2010 only paid for the engineering study and design improvements. Money for the waterline replacement, well improvements and improvements to the treatment plant will have to come from somewhere else.
“We don’t have the money yet,” Scalf said. “We’re going to have to determine how to pay for it; through a bond issue or whatever. We’re looking at the options right now.”
As for the future new police station fire station, the city has preliminary estimates, but nothing is set in stone. Scalf said the city is still mulling over locations.
“We’re going to have to make some decisions on whether the police station and fire station will be located in the same place or whether at different locations and what that will mean to the cost,” Scalf said.
Scalf said the future city sports complex has several possible locations that citizen committees have investigated, but there is no decision yet. Ada Public Works Director Carl Allen said the East Main project — from Mississippi to the college is all but finished. Crews are working on the intersection of Main and Mississippi.
“We’re making the crosswalks Americans with Disabilities Act compliant,” Allen said. “Putting in tactile strips and those kinds of things. We’re redoing the drainage so no water just sits there when it rains like it has in the past.”
He said work will begin on Orange Street in the Hammond Heights Addition soon.
“We will hopefully start that pretty quick,” Allen said. “We’ll replace that road out there and put new curb and gutter in.”
Allen said the city will contract out improvements to a section of Oak from the railroad tracks south to 18th Street. He said 16th, 17th and Ash around Washington Grade School will be also be improved.
Work will begin on Stonewall Street on both sides of Main. Allen said the area has serious drainage issues which need to be addressed.
As for street maintenance and upkeep, Allen said areas in need are being addressed. A rating system for the condition of each street was done, but it needs a refresher course.
“From fail, needs total reconstruction, to recent overlay, like new,” Allen said. “We’ve rated those streets, but we’re going to go back and make sure the ratings are still accurate because it’s been a couple of years since they were rated.”
Another issue the street department is working on is drainage.
“Most of the failures that you see, if you see potholes or asphalt flaking off, it’s an issue because water is getting underneath there,” Allen said. “What we’ve decided to do is, during the winter months, when we can’t really lay asphalt and those kinds of things, we’re going to have our crews go out and fix the drainage issues, whether it be cleaning bar ditches out, putting in new piping or whatever we need to do. So, when the summer months get here, and it’s time to get going on the asphalt, we’ve got those places prepped. We can lay the asphalt and not have to worry about premature failure because of drainage issues.”
Allen said the future for Ada streets is looking good because there will be more funds available for the coming year.
“Within the next couple of weeks, we’re going to order some oil to do seal coats on the streets that are in pretty good shape, but they need that to keep them from deteriorating,” Allen said. “We’re lucky because (interim city manager Cody Holcomb) knows this stuff, so he’s been very helpful. We have things going on that I think is going to impress people. I think they’re going to be very happy.”
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