Scooters, sidewalk cafes and parklets approved

The Hastings City Council on Monday night passed a resolution that $496,462.50 will be assessed to property owners along the route of the 2023 Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvement project.

A public hearing on the project scope and features of the project will be held March 6 during the city council meeting, which gets underway at 7 p.m. A public hearing on proposed assessments will be held during the April 3 council meeting.

Total cost of this year’s project is budgeted at $3,250,000.

The city has reached out to 72 individual property owners along the project route and provided them information on the project, inviting them to set up meetings with city staff to provide comments or for more information. The city has heard from 24 property owners.

“There has been general support from the discussion we’ve had during the public outreach period for the proposed improvement,” Public Works Director/City Engineer Ryan Stempski said.

Stempski said there are six streets where a variety of work will be done.

Set for told reconstruction are Pleasant Drive from 15th Street W to the Vermillion River Bridge and Old Bridge Lane, from Northridge Drive to Pleasant Drive. Complete reconstruction means replacement of base material, new pavement and new curb and gutter. Sanitary sewer main will be replaced, as will water main, sanitary sewer and water services. Also included are pedestrian ramp improvements, paved trail construction, and sidewalk repairs where necessary.

Reclaim projects will take place on:

•Pleasant Drive – From Hwy. 46 to Vermillion River Bridge

•Southview Drive – From Pleasant Drive to Westview Dr

•Southview Place – From Southview Drive to end

•Ridgewood Court – From Pleasant Drive to end

•18th Court – From Pleasant Drive to end The reclaim project involves grinding up and recycling existing pavement and travel of the street to make a new base with new pavement. Curb and gutter will be replaced where necessary, and some sewer and water work will be done where necessary. Pedestrian ramps will be improved, and a paved trail extension will be built along Southview Drive where there is a gap.

Total project cost with design and other overhead is $4.2 million.

In other business: Electric scooters

The city council approved contracts with Spin that will see up to 100 electric mobility scooters in this city this year.

Last year, the city approved a contract with Bird that was seen as successful, though council members expressed concern over scooters being left in medians and boulevard and not picked up for charging in a timely fashion. Bird pulled its Hastings proposal at the last minute and won’t have scooters here this summer.

The city plans to re-evaluate the contracts mid-year to make sure everything is running smoothly. City staff also included provisions for low-speed zones downtown and in Levee Park when programming is taking place.

Sidewalk cafes and parklets The council approved renewal application for sidewalk cafes for the Hastings Dairy Store, Geek Haven Coffee, American Legion Post 47, Froth & Cork, Lock and Dam Eatery, The Busted Nut and Spiral Brewery.

Parklet licenses were granted to River City Popcorn and Candy Co., El Mexican Restaurant, The Busted Nut and Spiral Brewery. The parklets are designed to allow establishment seating to extend into parking spaces.

Parks Commissioners

New Hastings Parks & Recreation Commissioners were approved to replace those whose term ended. Candidates were interviewed Jan. 25 and 26 by an interview panel consisting of Councilmember Tina Folch, City Administrator Dan Wietecha, Parks Commissioner Bruce Karnick and Parks Director Chris Jenkins.

Newly appointed to the commission are Wendy Loomis, Dwight Smith and Ceil Strauss. They will serve two-year terms.

“Each of these individuals have varied and unique backgrounds and experiences that will bring great value to the Parks & Recreation Commission,” said Jenkins.