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AGENDA ITEM # 9.5 REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL Report Prepared by: Andy Schwartz Date: 1/2/24 Subject: Trailside Park Utilities Report: I was asked to give an update and provide the council with options for dealing with freeze-prone water lines on Isabelle Drive. A combination of factors including a dead-end water main with low usage and shallower than normal bury depth of the main has created past problems with freezing in part of the Trailside Development. Two of the residences in the problem area have services located in their driveways, which stay plowed and allow frost to penetrate deep in mid - winter, making the problem even worse. We’ve discussed several options over the years to resolve this problem, and there is concern with the other empty lots moving forward as the city works to get them sold and occupied. Currently we allow the two homeowners to run their water at a trickle in the late winter months to keep their service from freezing. This is a temporary solution that works, but we do not want other future homes in development with the same issue. My recommendation moving forward is to work with site developers/contractors on keeping the services in the newly platted lots outside of driveways and other paved surfaces that will be clear of snow in the winter. This will require communication between city staff and builders and may also require us to excavate and move or insulate existing services. I can work with a local excavator to get this done, and at the same time address (excavate, insulate, and repave) the two current problem areas we have. Combining work at several of these properties will help keep costs down for the city and homeowners in the event they wish to have additional excavating and insulating done on their portion of the service line. Council Action Requested: No action requested until lots start to sell, and construction begins.