The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

The City of Royal is considering a "do it yourself" approach to repaving portions of Main Street.

City council members have been discussing the need to repave Main Street. Estimates to completely rebuild the street and three intersections range from $700,000 to $900,000. Milling off existing asphalt and repaving the street is estimated to cost approximately $400,000.

Considering the potential costs and requirements that accompany any grant funding the city might receive for the project, Mayor Josh Toft suggested an alternate approach.

"The idea of getting grants ends up complicating the issue more," he said during the Dec. 13 council meeting. "It really costs us more to go the grant route."

Those costs include engineering, intersection, curb and sidewalk replacement, signage and lighting.

"We would be spending money not just on the street. At the end of it all, you're getting more than you're looking for and spending a lot more," Toft noted.

He suggested the city tear out the paving in the center of Main Street and replace it with concrete eight inches thick.

"We can pour it in 12-foot strips. You wouldn't need a pump or anything. We could come back two or three years later and do the sides," Toft explained.

"The curb and sidewalk will be more expensive than the center of the street," observed Council Member Jim Virelli.

City Clerk Barb Fletcher said the city could transfer funds from other sources to help finance a street project. One potential source is the water utility fund, which has a balance $156,000. Since the city no longer operates the water utility, those funds may be used elsewhere.

The city also has $17,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding it has not spent.

The council agreed the alternative plan should be investigated.

"I think it is worth looking into," said Council Member Sara Ricke.

• Clerk to resign, employee wages set

Fletcher announced she intends to retire as city clerk on July 31, 2024. Options for filling the position were discussed but no decision was made.

The council approved renewal of the health insurance coverage for Fletcher and Nielsen. Premium costs will increase 4.71 percent.

Fletcher and Nielsen were also granted 4.3 percent increases in pay. Part-time employees Lance Kruse, Tanner Nielsen and Arlene Wimmer were granted a 3 percent increase.

• Additional business

Mayor Toft and council members Alec Nielsen, Jim Virelli and Jeff Van Westen were sworn in to begin their new terms. Virelli and Nielsen will be the representative and alternate, respectively, to the Northwest Iowa Solid Waste Agency.

Alliant Energy has agreed to a two-year extension of the current agreement with the city. Toft also visited with Torin Erickson, Supervisor Customer Operations with Alliant, about replacing street lights in Royal. Erickson said the city should compile a list of lights that are not working and choose the type of lights the city prefers.

Fletcher also reported an incident regarding an alleged attack of a dog by another dog. The Clay County Sheriff's Office has been advised of the situation.