BOSCOBEL - The Boscobel City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday Feb. 7, covering many house keeping topics for the city.

As part of this, Public Hearings on various topics were held.

Mayor Steve Wetter opened the Public Hearing starting with one regarding the 2022 Streets Improvement Projects.

Boscobel City Engineer Mike Reynolds started the public hearing by explaining the ins and outs of the Community Development Block Grant program which the city is participating in as part of the street improvements.

Reynolds explained that the city was awarded $643,205 in grant funds which will leave approximately $301,000 in local funds paid towards the project. He noted that this will be covered between funds from the utility and city.

As part of the project, as Reynolds explained the city is hopeful to tie into previously replaced mains and replace sidewalks as needed. The streets when completed will all be 37 feet with a back-to-back curb width.

Also included in this project will be the replacement of any lead service lines encountered, which the city anticipates will be covered by forthcoming grant dollars from their grant they applied for through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

“We are proposing that the contractor start on the west portion of the project,” Reynolds noted. Which would include Park Street, Center Street, and Warah Streets. with substantial completion of these happening before continuing work onto the eastern portion which includes East Oak Street and Valley Street.

The anticipated timeline of the West portion of the project is four to five weeks to get the underground portions complete and the East portion anticipated to take 10-12 weeks for the underground work to be completed

“There are some gas line conflicts,” Reynolds noted of the project, adding that they are previously working with the gas company on this. Additionally there will also be some tree removal which will be necessary. However, the city will replace the trees through their ongoing available Tree Replacement Program.

Two individuals shared concerns about access to their home during the project during the public input portion.

Also up for discussion during the council meeting was the topic was getting the street department ready for spring with a new mower.

At the time of the meeting the City owned three pieces of equipment for their mowing needs, a 2008 and a 2009 lawn tractors in addition to a 1968 brush hog and sickle mower.

It was shared with the council that the hope would be to trade in these three items towards the cost of one complete tractor for mowing and brush hog work. Noting that one piece of equipment could save the city a lot of time in maintenance compared to three, but also help with the limited storage they have available.

It was approved by the council to trade the three existing pieces of equipment for a maximum net amount of $18,500. And to proceed with purchasing a new tractor mower.

In other council news:

• Colton Rutherford and Tyler Hernan were hired as fill time street department employees.

•Grants were accepted as part of the boat landing project

•The city will continue to seek bids for the HVAC project at City Hall.