The City Council of Webster City unanimously approved funding for five large, utility and road rehabilitation projects in Webster City at its regularly-scheduled meeting Monday evening.

Utility Projects

Lift stations are in common use in wastewater treatment systems across the United States. They gather wastewater in a low-lying collection basin, then, using powerful pumps, move it uphill to a point where it can flow downhill, by gravity, to the city’s wastewater treatment plant on East Ohio Street.

The city’s East Lift Station has two pumps to move wastewater. Both are in deteriorating condition and must be replaced. Consultant Snyder & Associates, Ankeny, and Nick Knowles, Water and Wastewater supervisor for the city, recommend replacing the pumps with two new Flygt dry pit, submersible pumps. The pumps, plus associated pipe and valves, are estimated to cost $92,430.

Knowles, in reviewing a maintenance agreement contract from USG Water, of Ontario, California, the firm presently under contract by the City to maintain its two water towers, found it’s increasing its annual service fee from $69,408.40 in 2025 to $77,043.46 next year; that’s a 3.5% increase.

Maguire Iron, Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., a competitor of USG, quoted a full-service contract for the towers and an underground storage tank, at $63,551, a 3.0% increase over 2025 rates. Knowles recommended switching to Maguire, and the Council unanimously agreed.

The contract provides for annual inspections, draining and cleaning the tower’s water tanks to remove sediment with high-pressure sprayers. Before returning the tanks to service, Maguire will disinfect them and apply interior and exterior paint and coatings, per the city’s normal maintenance schedule. There’s also a provision for emergency service in the annual fee.

Each year, the city makes a high priority of budgeting funds for water main repairs and sanitary sewer rehabilitation. Portions of both the mains and sewers are many decades old. The entire system has been surveyed by robotic cameras to assess actual, under-street conditions of the systems, enabling the street department to prioritize repairs based on greatest need.

This year, water valves will be replaced at the following intersections: Superior and Ohio, Superior and Second, Oak and Second, Elm and Prospect, Second and Maple, and Bank and Lynx.

Fire hydrant replacements are scheduled for: 1626 Second, Lynx Avenue and Grand, and East Dubuque and Park streets. Sanitary sewer spot repairs will take place on Lyndale Drive, Beach Street, and at the corner of Superior and Walnut.

The project is expected to cost $337,990. Of this, $100,000 will come from 25/26 wastewater funds, and the balance from proceeds of the 2024 water improvement bonds.

Road Rehabilitation Projects

Council gave final, unanimous approval to two major road rehabilitation plans Monday evening, both of which it has discussed and approved previously.

In the first, it okayed plans, specifications and cost estimates for a major summer-long rehabilitation of Beach Street, one of the city’s most heavily-trafficked. It awarded the contract to T.K. Concrete, Inc., of Pella, which submitted the lowest bid of $940,099.

Concrete paving is used only on the city’s most heavily-traveled streets due to the considerably higher cost versus asphalt. The federal government is paying 90% of the cost of the Beach Street project, making it an excellent value for taxpayers.

Council also approved specifications and cost estimates for the 2026 Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) paving program that will run from June through August.

As in years past, the project scope includes a limited amount of curb and gutter replacements, milling of worn-out pavement, resurfacing with asphalt, and replacement of selected sewer manhole boxouts, water valve boxes, and ADA sidewalk ramps.

The budget for this year’s HMA project is $636,000. If weather and work site conditions allow, some or all of three “bid alternative” projects may be completed, in addition to the base projects. In the event all three bid alternatives are also completed, parts of roads in Graceland Cemetery would be the next priority for asphalt paving.

The city has been successfully repaving streets all over town using this system in recent years. It calls the HMA programs “sustainable” and good value to both taxpayers and road users.