Could Pave French Street By Mid-July

Work on downtown Peshtigo is moving ahead rapidly, the city’s Streets and Drainage Committee was told Friday, June 29. The committee agreed with a suggestion from City Engineer George Cowell that when the curb and gutter are poured near the Municipal Building on French Street it should provide for a new and safer driveway entrance to the parking lot, even though other improvements planned for the parking lot will not be done at this time. Cowell said the idea was suggested to him by Robert E. Lee Design Engineer Ryan Trzinski, onsite consultant for the downtown renovations.

A change order adding $58,597.40 to the DeGroot contract was approved after an explanation from Trzinski. Curb and gutter work on French Street had been included for funding with the DOT enhancement grant but they now have been told it isn’t eligible, Trzinski said. He added it can be part of the project, but the city is responsible for the cost. However, it would be more beneficial to the city to have it done now, with the other work being done by DeGroot. The work is 100 percent TIF eligible, and there is a favorable bid of &10.82 per linear foot, compared to the state average of $11.50.

“It’s frustrating,” declared Alderman Cathi Malke, who chairs the committee. “Months ago we were told it was good, and now it isn’t!”

Cowell agreed the rules keep changing, but added the good thing is that the grant amount remains the same, so they can pay for something else that might not have been covered otherwise. He added that this means they can put in the curb and gutter now on French Street and get it paved. “It should be done by mid-July,” Cowell said. “That should make a lot of people happy!”

Malke found it interesting to see how the bridge work is done, including watching placement of the temporary low bridge that allows construction vehicles to move from one side of the nearly dry river to the other.

Cowell later reported that having the city divided into two sections with the Hwy. 41 by-pass being the only connection between east and west sides is slowing down the work of the city crew. That problem was eased a bit when the DOT gave permission for the city’s loader and trailer to cross by way of the low bridge.

Malke reported the people working on the possibility of a stone crib monument to commemorate the days of log drives on the Peshtigo River have been allowed to salvage some of the wood from the historic old structures in the river. If reconstruction of one or more of the cribs becomes a reality they have the original materials to build them with.

The Committee agreed to award the contract for construction of the Industrial Park Storm Water Management project to Relyco, Inc., contractors of DePere for their low bid of $528,310.71, and Council approval will be requested. City Clerk Treasurer Mary Ann Wills noted the project is fully funded by TIF, and the money is there. She explained that is the money that was borrowed for TIF in the first place. Cowell suggested they need to review the whole TIF list. With $400,000 going directly in to construction of the wastewater treatment plant he is concerned they will run short. Alderman Mary Lock said the storm water system was one of the top priorities when they were allocating TIF money, and if necessary they may have to give something else up.

There was brief discussion of the “Cans For Kids” collection box on French Street. Malke assumed the item had been placed on the agenda by Lock, who is a main supporter of the project, which collects aluminum cans that people contribute and uses the money for projects that benefit young people, for example the skate park.

Lock said she had asked that it be discussed now because she feels it is “becoming an issue.” She said it has proven to be a good fundraiser collecting cans that sold for a total of nearly $8,000 in the years since the project started. She said they generally collect $200 to $300 worth of cans a month and have used the money to buy a swing set, help a family after a fire, and aid cancer victims. “The Chamber supports it, she said, “and I honestly feel if we move it anywhere else we aren’t going to raise that kind of money.”

Malke said she would like to see it moved, and felt it would do just as well behind the Pharmacy. She said she has received complaints about the appearance of the wire fence filled with bags of cans right on the busiest corner of downtown, and about bees collecting around it.

Lock disagreed. Cowell suggested the can committee could put slats into their chain link fence to improve the appearance. Lock said they could do that, they would even build a wooden cage around it. No action was taken. Indications are the can cage will stay where it is, but the appearance will be improved.

“There’s no question it (the can project) has done a lot of good for the community,” Malke declared. Alderman Mike Behnke felt whatever is done does not need to happen until the street and sidewalk work there is complete.

The committee again discussed the 48 banners allocated for the downtown enhancement program and viewed the designs selected by the Historical Society. Discussion included the possibility of having half the banners with the winning design on one side and various other historical depictions on the other, and the other half on a Christmas theme. Jeff Larmay of Vital Signs of Oconto had told the committee a month ago that varying the designs will not add to the cost. Lock suggested they couldn’t say “Merry Christmas” or the city might be sued. Whatever choice is made, purchase of the banners will need to be put up for bids.

Lock questioned a huge pile of concrete being collected on city property and wondered if they are being paid for demolition debris disposal. Cowell said they are not, but will crush the material into gravel to use for projects next year, which will save a little money. He agreed in future they probably should look at establishing a per load charge for disposal.

On advice of Cowell and Trzinski the committee approved several major payments and change orders to contractors on the downtown projects that will be presented to the full City Council for approval at their meeting Tuesday, July 3.

Among them were change orders that decreased the contract with Northeast Asphalt by $21,481 for street resurfacing, and the contract with Jackie Foster for the Ellis Ave. reconstruction by $592.72.

They also agreed second and final payment for the Ellis Ave. utility and street reconstruction project should be made to Jackie Foster, Inc., for $83,584.41. Lien waivers from the two sub contractors are to be provided

Payment of $289,777.99 as the amount now due to DeGroot, Inc. was also approved. This includes disposal of contaminated materials from the project area.

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