Marthasville aldermen have given contractor KJU Inc. an additional month to finish surface work at a new dam and retention basin in Rusche Park, but also demanded the contractor take quick action against erosion at the site.

KJU, out of Washington, was hired for $60,882 in November to build a half-acre basin in the park, which officials say will reduce water runoff and flooding north of Highway D. Most of that work is now done, but city officials said the contractor removed all equipment from the site and had not returned by late January to finish seeding and strawing the new earthen embankment. 

No erosion control measures had been erected by late January, either. Aldermen worry rain will wash silt down to fill in the basin they just paid $60,000 to build.

“If we get an 8-inch rain, and it silts in (the basin) 2 feet, they’ll have to pump that back down and clean all the slurry to give us (the depth) it’s supposed to be,” said Alderman Dan Grafrath.

“They got in and got out at their leisure, and left us with what potentially could be a mess,” agreed Alderman Nick Lange.

During the city’s Jan. 20 board of aldermen meeting, the board agreed to pay KJU a bill of $49,000 for the work completed thus far, and retain nearly $12,000 for the remainder of the work. Aldermen then held dual discussions of how to get erosion control established as quickly as possible, and whether to allow the contractor more time to finish seeding and strawing due to recent winter weather. 

The original project completion deadline was set at Feb. 5. Project engineers with Cochran Engineering recommended pausing the project clock based on the last date worked (Dec. 24), and setting a new completion deadline, according to Mayor David Lange.

“I’m not opposed to extending the time, but at the same time, we need to reconcile a few of these items that are not complete yet,” Alderman Nick Lange commented. “I don’t want this to drag out for a long time, either, especially with spring rains coming and no silt fencing installed.”

Aldermen debated whether to allow KJU to restart the project in March and finish in April, but decided to keep pressure on the contractor and only allow a short extension. Aldermen voted 4-0 to extend the project completion time by 30 days, giving KJU until early March. 

Alderman Lange also requested the city attorney send notice to KJU that it is required to provide the erosion control measures specified in its contract with the city.

Once the dam and basin are complete, city officials have said they plan to pursue future park improvements, such as walking trails.

The retention basin could be seen doing its work in January, holding back water from recent rains and snows. The water is released slowly over time through drainage structures in the dam.