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Kennedy Rd. project gets go-ahead vote
The way has been paved for the Kennedy Road improvement plans to be finalized.
Monday, the city council voted 7-0 (Kessler absent) to approve the recommendation of Public Works Chairman Rod Johnson to
accept the proposed engineering fee.
This action was tabled at the last meeting for more information because the council felt the estimate was high. Johnson said
that the project estimate is within guidelines in recommending the 7 1/4 percent cost, which amounts to about $61,000.
The vote now allows Martin Engineering to prepare plans for the work that is backed by a state grant of $780,000. The city will
add another $120,000 from its Motor Fuel Tax Fund, for a total amount available of $900,000.
Because of a number of variables, especially the road's base structure, Johnson says that what we are looking at (for the
length of the work) is how far the $900,000 goes.
Originally, the plan was to renovate Kennedy from the township garage south to Divernon Road. Then it was thought it could be
extended to Jackson (Rte. 104). Now Johnson says what may happen simply is that we will start at Divernon Road and work our
way north going as far as that $900,000 takes us."
The renovation will be nothing more than that. There will be no frills, such as underground storm water drainage, lights, curbs,
sidewalks, notes Johnson.
The roadway will be widened to 24 feet. If it needs more space, it would be to the east, maybe a couple feet. It is also possible
that utility poles will need to be moved, all having an affect on the cost. Johnson added that the road's crown will be eliminated as
much as possible.
Core samples were taken several months ago and reveal that the rock sub-base of the road runs between 1.25 and 8.5 inches.
The asphalt overlay will be four inches.
Johnson said that Monday's vote will allow Martin to draw up plans to be presented by mid-February hopefully with an IDOT
approval by the end of March. Then the project can be let out for bids. Work would be done during the summer months.
In 2002-03, the city completed the 7th Street project which cost $923,444.60 with an engineering fee of $111,500. That project
had more involved planning, thus the higher engineering fee. That came because of underground drainage, curb and guttering,
etc.
Johnson also reported on handrails for a pedestrian bridge in Timberbrooke that came up a little short. "The 42 inch railing is
only 33 inches and the mistake will be corrected," he said.
On a 6-0 vote (Kessler, Rathgeber absent), the council voted to allow a narrow alley behind the United Community Bank to be
vacated. The alley is not used and will allow its UCB to expand data processing building to the west.
Utilities committee chairman Chris Warwick reported that he has talked with NewWave about cable service to the
Timberbrooke and Auburn Hills subdivisions.
Warwick said that NewWave is new and he will talk with them about the fact that service for subdivisions must be offered after
one year of their existence. NewWave recently purchased the company "and I guess they are unaware of this," said Warwick.
Public Health Officer Tom Berola reported that a former gas station at 5th and Jackson, which as been vacant for many years,
will be torn down soon.
Because of the Martin Luther King birthday Monday, January 18, the council meeting will be Tuesday, January 19. Alderman
Mark Kessler, who has been in Afghanistan for the past six months, is expected back.
The way has been paved for the Kennedy Road improvement plans to be finalized.
Monday, the city council voted 7-0 (Kessler absent) to approve the recommendation of Public Works Chairman Rod Johnson to
accept the proposed engineering fee.
This action was tabled at the last meeting for more information because the council felt the estimate was high. Johnson said
that the project estimate is within guidelines in recommending the 7 1/4 percent cost, which amounts to about $61,000.
The vote now allows Martin Engineering to prepare plans for the work that is backed by a state grant of $780,000. The city will
add another $120,000 from its Motor Fuel Tax Fund, for a total amount available of $900,000.
Because of a number of variables, especially the road's base structure, Johnson says that what we are looking at (for the
length of the work) is how far the $900,000 goes.
Originally, the plan was to renovate Kennedy from the township garage south to Divernon Road. Then it was thought it could be
extended to Jackson (Rte. 104). Now Johnson says what may happen simply is that we will start at Divernon Road and work our
way north going as far as that $900,000 takes us."
The renovation will be nothing more than that. There will be no frills, such as underground storm water drainage, lights, curbs,
sidewalks, notes Johnson.
The roadway will be widened to 24 feet. If it needs more space, it would be to the east, maybe a couple feet. It is also possible
that utility poles will need to be moved, all having an affect on the cost. Johnson added that the road's crown will be eliminated as
much as possible.
Core samples were taken several months ago and reveal that the rock sub-base of the road runs between 1.25 and 8.5 inches.
The asphalt overlay will be four inches.
Johnson said that Monday's vote will allow Martin to draw up plans to be presented by mid-February hopefully with an IDOT
approval by the end of March. Then the project can be let out for bids. Work would be done during the summer months.
In 2002-03, the city completed the 7th Street project which cost $923,444.60 with an engineering fee of $111,500. That project
had more involved planning, thus the higher engineering fee. That came because of underground drainage, curb and guttering,
etc.
Johnson also reported on handrails for a pedestrian bridge in Timberbrooke that came up a little short. "The 42 inch railing is
only 33 inches and the mistake will be corrected," he said.
On a 6-0 vote (Kessler, Rathgeber absent), the council voted to allow a narrow alley behind the United Community Bank to be
vacated. The alley is not used and will allow its UCB to expand data processing building to the west.
Utilities committee chairman Chris Warwick reported that he has talked with NewWave about cable service to the
Timberbrooke and Auburn Hills subdivisions.
Warwick said that NewWave is new and he will talk with them about the fact that service for subdivisions must be offered after
one year of their existence. NewWave recently purchased the company "and I guess they are unaware of this," said Warwick.
Public Health Officer Tom Berola reported that a former gas station at 5th and Jackson, which as been vacant for many years,
will be torn down soon.
Because of the Martin Luther King birthday Monday, January 18, the council meeting will be Tuesday, January 19. Alderman
Mark Kessler, who has been in Afghanistan for the past six months, is expected back.
Issue Date: Jan. 7, 2010
