It’s all systems go, still, for Farm-City Days.
Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock reassured City Council members Monday that the fall festival’s plans remain on track amid an ongoing rebuild of U.S. 54 through downtown Iola.
Schinstock was asked by Councilman Jeremiah Ivy about the rebuild, and whether special accommodations would be necessary if crews are unable to finish the south side lane around the square for the Oct. 17 parade.
In truth, “the parade could happen today if we needed to, on the lanes we’ve got,” Schinstock replied.
And even though rainy weather this week may hamper the start of the concrete pour, the grading and staking along the highway are in place.
“It’s just a matter of the concrete guys getting here and (pouring) it,” Schinstock said. “The project is moving along really well.”’
Workers have left a portion of the storefront sidewalks undisturbed, for now, because of Farm-City Days, Schinstock said.
“It still gives a walking path to the businesses,” he said.
And while the highway will likely not be open for traffic by Oct. 17, the concrete should be poured and cured enough for the parade route.
Schinstock expected the rest of the downtown work, including new lights and traffic control measures, to be finished by early to mid-November.
Farther to the east, work is nearly complete on the water line replacement along the highway as well. All that remains are “punch list” items before that project is deemed “substantially complete.”
IN RELATED matters, the Council approved a number of requests from the Farm-City Days Committee, such as allowing committee members to use golf carts on city roadways, setting up barricades and road blocks, providing electrical service and bleachers, and offering other behind-the-scenes support for the two-day festival, which begins Friday, Oct. 16.
As for the highway project, Councilwoman Kim Peterson said she’d heard complaints from motorists attempting to turn onto the highway from South Buckeye Street, because parked construction equipment makes it difficult to see passing traffic in both directions.
Schinstock said he would speak with the contractors to get the machinery moved.
IOLA will assist Kim Folk in her application for a grant that would help her preserve a three-story house at 302 East St. that was damaged by a fire earlier this year.
Folk is applying for funding through a pilot program from the Kansas Community Development Block Grant program to save the 125-year-old structure, one of the oldest homes as Iola.
