The Stratford City Council on Monday evening met with Jim Leding from Bolton and Menk on the drainage issue on Dryden Street. Leiding informed the council that the field is approximately 52 acres. Approximately nine acres was drained to the east via six-inch tile. The remainder was drained to and tied into the twenty-four-inch storm sewer at Shakespeare Avenue and Dryden Street which flows west to the Des Moines River. The five old tiles north of Dryden Street in Stratford have been cut but are still operational, three tied into the twenty-four-inch storm sewer running to the west and two tied to the twelve-inch flowing to the east. Bolton and Menk did a modeling of the watershed to try and understand effects of the change to the drainage system. The two primary changes are the seven additional acres draining to the west, and the shift from pothole tiling to pattern tiling. The conclusion was either to stay hooked up the old connection with five separate field tiles running through residential property, that may be plugged or connect to the new connection at the corner of Shakespeare Avenue and Dryden Street and hook to the twenty-four-inch storm sewer running to the west. According to the results of the modeling done by Bolton and Menk, it shows that the pattern tile is no worse than the prior condition and may even have a small, beneficial impact on the drainage in the north Dryden Street area. The council approved Ubben Tiling connection at the corner of Shakespeare Avenue and Dryden Street to the twenty-four-inch storm sewer running to the west and disconnect the five old field tiles north of Dryden Street that run through residential properties.
Randi Baker addressed the Stratford city council on the idea of a Community Garden. Baker explained that Iowa State University has a community garden program. Iowa State will do the training for forty hours for $150. Baker was wondering if the City of Stratford has any interest in the idea or an area on where to do it in. Further discussion will be taking place at a future council meeting.
The Stratford City Council met with Nancy Baker and Sarah Bryan from the Stratford Community Development Corporation met to discuss the plans on the Stratford on the Loose event set for Saturday, July 12. The development corporation requested permission to use the park and to close the street Shakespeare Avenue from Tennyson Avenue to Commercial Street on July 12th. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a parade, children’s games, games on Main Street and music in the evening. The street closure request and to use the park for the July 12th celebration in Stratford was approved by the council. The city council approved the adoption of the 2026 Fiscal Year Capital Improvement Plan.