From library to aquatic center, the changing season in New London features an array of major maintenance projects and cracks in an aging infrastructure.

At the same time, civic groups that utilize the city’s parks and programs continue to step up to make them even better.

The New London Common Council heard updates on construction projects, trouble spots and donations at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Work to replace the roof on the New London Public Library is slated to begin between Oct. 21 and Nov. 1.

The $73,302 roof project will close the library parking lot and may alter access to the building, shared by library and museum, during construction, according to Chad Hoerth, parks and recreation director.

The replacement of frames around skylights at the New London Aquatic and Fitness Center will close the pool from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. during three to four weeks of construction. Hoerth said the pool would open after construction hours for swim team and lessons.

An update posted on the door at the aquatic center on Friday, Oct. 11, said the pool would be open till November. It did not state a start date for the skylight frame project.

In an outdoor project unlikely to disrupt residents’ mental or physical exercise, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to begin work this fall on installing new riprap along the shoreline at Memorial Park, 800 Montgomery St.

The council approved, 9-0, with Rob Way absent, a land use agreement to allow the DNR access through the park to the riverbank.

The council also accepted a bid for a storm water study of a problem spot at the intersection of Lawrence and South Water streets.

At the Sept. 30 meeting of the Board of Public Works, Connie Schinke, of 121 E. Wolf River Ave., presented photos documenting ongoing drainage problems at the site.

Public works director Jeff Bodoh recommended the city hire a consultant to find a solution to the problem.

The council voted 9-0 to accept a bid for $1,300 from Martenson & Eisele Inc., of Menasha, for the storm water study.

The council approved the low bid of $20,900 for the Douglas Street sanitary sewer construction. Six bids ranged up to $38,976, with Roger Bowers Construction of Kaukauna winning the job.

On the receiving end, the council voted 9-0 to approve the donation of field lights and poles for Pfeifer Park from New London Youth Baseball.

There’s More

The council also approved, on a 9-0 vote:

• An increase in pay for the city attorney to $20,000 per year. The new rate will take effect after the April 2014 election. The current rate of $13,000 has been unchanged since 2007. Earl Luaders has been city attorney since 1980.

• The relocation of two polling places.

• District one residents will vote at the First Congregational UCC Church, 110 E. Hancock St. The move was made due to space constraints at the library polling place.

• District four voters will go to the polls at the Crystal Falls Banquet Facility, 1500 Handschke Dr., due to the destruction of Trinity Lutheran Church by a tornado last summer.

• A new pay plan for non-union city employees. The plan, created after a pay plan study, sets 19 pay grades, and salary steps for each. It includes 2 percent pay raises for non-management workers; and pay raises based on performance, after an annual evaluation, for managers. City administrator Kent Hager said he had met Oct. 8 with most city workers to discuss the new pay plan and planned to meet Oct. 9 with the others.