By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
Multiple residents opposed paying for the installation of new curb and gutter along their street during an April 12 public hearing before the Delavan Common Council.
City ordinance requires property owners to pay the full cost of new curb and gutter when they’re installed for the first time as part of a street reconstruction through the special assessment process. The city is planning to reconstruct Geneva Street from Third to Fourth streets and built a cul de sac at its end this summer.
Six residents affected by the project spoke during the hearing. The residents favor having the project done but do not want to pay for it. Some said they were not aware paying for it would be their responsibility when they requested the repair of the long-neglected street. Others said they recalled the council agreeing to not charge the residents the special assessment when it discussed reconstructing the street several years ago. No one on the council could remember such an agreement.
Alderman Ryan Schroeder, who was not on the council at that time, asked why the project did not get done at that time. Public Works Director Mark Wendorf said at the time, the council discussed whether the street should go through or end, and the project fell behind others and did not get done.
Alderman Gary Stebnitz said he wants to remain consistent. He said if other property owners have been charged for new curb and gutter based on the ordinance, so should these residents, however if a previous council agreed not to charge them, the current council should honor that agreement.
Jeff Johnson said adding curb and gutter will improve the look and property value of the area and will help the road last longer than if it were reconstructed without curb and gutter. He also said the residents will have many years to pay the assessment.
The council approved a motion by Stebnitz to approve the special assessments over 10 years contingent on finding no record of an agreement by the council to pay for the project without charging the residents. Alderman Ron Henriott said he does not believe the city has been consistent with its ordinance and that should be a goal going forward.
The council later approved a bid from Odling Construction of Delavan in an amount not to exceed $116,737 to reconstruct Geneva Street in that area.
Bridge approved
The council approved a bid from NuGen Johnson of Sussex in the amount of $211,366 for the construction of a pedestrian bridge that will parallel the Washington Street Bridge.
Wendorf said a pedestrian bridge was added to the original bridge that holds the roadway and is very deteriorated. The pedestrian bridge will be removed and replaced with a new prefabricated timber bridge that will not be connected to the roadway bridge. Alderman Bruce DeWitt said the project came in under the $270,000 the city originally budgeted for it. Wendorf said the goal is to have the bridge installed by Labor Day weekend.
Emergency equipment
The council approved the purchase of equipment for the police and fire departments. An Eventide Nexlog Communications Recorder from General Communications for the police department was approved in an amount not to exceed $14,825. Loose equipment from Jefferson Fire and Safety for the new fire engine the city purchased was approved in the amount of $11,412. Communications equipment from Bandt Communications for the new fire truck was also approved in the amount of $12,545.
