Village lays groundwork for sidewalk construction

Under a plan being considered by Village of Fredonia officials, a stretch of North Milwaukee and Fillmore streets would be the first to have sidewalks installed starting in 2020.

The village Public Works Committee last week explored where sidewalks are needed and began prioritizing them by factoring in safety concerns and cost.

Concerned for the safety of school children who are forced to walk in the streets to and from school, trustees have discussed the need for sidewalks and how to pay for them for nearly a year. The Village Board recently directed the Public Works Committee to come up with a five-year plan to do so at a cost of about $16,000 a year.

The plan also calls for the village and homeowners to split the cost of installing sidewalks in established neighborhoods while developers would pay the entire cost in new subdivisions.

Last week, committee members looked at nine areas and the cost of installing sidewalks in each one.

Deemed the most urgent because of safety concerns was the east side of North Milwaukee Street between the 204 to 230 address numbers. Doing sidewalks there also could be coordinated with street work that is planned, helping to reduce the cost, Public Works Director Roger Strohm said.

Ranked lowest in priority was Fillmore Street from Stoney Creek Park to Martin Drive. It also was the second-most-expensive stretch, costing $35,035. 

The costliest portion would be $39,650 for a 1,220-foot stretch on the west side of North Milwaukee Street from the street’s northernmost end.

The total cost of building all nine stretches is estimated at $151,710, with homeowners and developers picking up more than half the cost, Strohm said.

Based on Strohm’s prioritization list and keeping the $16,000 annual limit in mind, the committee tentatively organized the projects in the following order:

2020 — 204-230 N. Milwaukee St. and the east side of Fillmore Street from the end of the parking lot on the south end to the parking lot at Stoney Creek Park.

2021 — 303 Washington Ave. on North Wilson, from 222 N. Wilson to 321 Martin Drive and the west side of Highland Drive from Fredonia Avenue to Regal Drive.

2022 — The far north end of North Milwaukee Street and Fillmore Street from Stoney Creek to Martin Drive.

2023 — 239 Meadowbrook Drive to South Milwaukee Street and 212 S. Milwaukee St. to Meadowbrook Drive.

Committee members emphasized that the list is a work in progress and adjustments are likely.

“We’re hoping to have a plan very soon to present to the Village Board,” said Trustee Joshua Haas, who chairs the committee.