Soil at Public Safety Center site being cleaned up

VIRGINIA—The Public Safety Center project in Virginia is moving along, which includes cleaning up some contaminated soils on the property.

The Virginia City Council—at a committee meeting Tuesday—approved up to $200,000 to clean up the area that runs along the former railway corridor on the site.

Sean Lewis of Kraus Anderson said the contingency fund for the $32 million project will be used to pay for the clean up. Lewis estimated the cost at between $160,000 and $200,000.

“We knew there was contamination,’’ City Administrator Britt See-Benes said, “we just didn’t know much.’’ There was no way to determine the exact amount before digging starts, she added.

As far as actual construction, Lewis said all of the rain has caused a few delays, but the building foundations are about 85% complete. Efforts are also being made to remove a fiber optic line that is still in the way of the project, he added.

Lewis expects the better part of the building to be on site by the end of October. The goal is to wrap up the entire project by July 2025.

“So far we’re in pretty good shape.’’

In the street and alley portion of the meeting, the committee agreed to allow Matt Reid of SEH Engineering to talk with the contractor regarding the mill and overlay repair of the streets around the new North Star Elementary in Virginia. The streets have been worn down significantly during the construction of the school.

Reid expects the mill and overlay of Sixth Avenue from Second Street to Third Street; Second Street from Fifth to Sixth Avenues; and Fourth Street from Fifth to Sixth Avenues to cost around $100,000. The Rock Ridge School District has committed to pay $30,000 toward the project, which leaves the city responsible for about $75,000, he said.

To expedite the work before school starts on Sept. 3, Reid said the road upgrades will be done as a change order to the school project.

“I believe they are doing it very soon here.’’

City overlays for 2025 were identified, as well, from a list of 15 potential streets.

Five of the streets will be included in the 2025 project.

They are:

1. 14 1/2 Avenue West (W. Chestnut St. to dead end)

2. 15th Avenue West (W. Chestnut St. to dead end)

3. 4th Street S. (Hoover Road to railroad grade)

4. 11th Street S. (5th Ave. to Sixth Ave.)

5. Hazel Avenue (18th St. S. to 20th St. S.)

The Committee of the Whole also agreed to seek appropriate funding for the 2025 overlay project for the prioritized roadways.

In other safety center items, the facility elevator capacity was increased 2,500 pounds to 4,500 pounds to allow for some specific training; and See-Benes was given the authority to approve time sensitive change orders up to $20,000 to keep the project moving along. Two change orders that reduced the project cost by about $84,000 were also given the OK.