Bids being sought for street, sidewalk projects

Reconstruction of North Wilson Street and the installation of a new sidewalk there could happen this year in Fredonia if appropriate bids are received.

The Fredonia Village Board voted last month to have Public Works Director Roger Strohm put out a request for bids for the job.

The project would include rebuilding North Wilson Street from Fredonia Avenue to Martin Drive and installing new sewer and water mains, new sewer laterals and a sidewalk on the east side of the street.

Mailboxes would be located on the east side of the street.

The project is expected to cost more than $300,000.

Work on the laterals will be bid out separately from the street work, with each lateral replacement costing about $3,500, Strohm said.

Property owners will be assessed for the laterals, which connect homes to the village sewer main, and be given the option of paying in a lump sum or over five years with their property taxes.

The village and property owners will split the cost of the sidewalk, which is expected to cost about $22,000. Property owners could either pay their share in one payment or over five years.

Strohm said property owners will be notified once the exact assessment amounts are known.

The sidewalk plan was authored by the Village Board in 2019 as a way to fill in gaps in village sidewalks and make them more walkable, especially for schoolchildren.

To help reduce costs, trustees gave priority to areas where street repairs are scheduled.

Under the plan, the village and homeowners split the cost of installing sidewalks in front of existing homes while developers pay the entire cost in new subdivisions.

The village also bears the entire cost of installing sidewalks and ramps in a right-of-way and along parcels owned by the village, such as parks.

Strohm said work on Wilson Street would likely begin in June or July and be finished in the fall.

He said it’s also possible work could be deferred if bids aren’t received that meet the village budget.