Village finalizes plan for sidewalk work

The Fredonia Village Board last week approved a plan that maps out how sidewalks will be installed over the next few years throughout the village and how they will be paid for.

Under the plan developed by the Public Works Committee, a stretch of North Milwaukee and Fillmore streets would be the first to have sidewalks installed starting in 2020.

The committee gave priority to areas  most heavily used by children walking to and from school and to areas where street repairs are already scheduled, which would help mitigate the cost.

The plan calls for spending about $16,000 a year in village funds on sidewalk construction.

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

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

Deemed the most urgent because of safety concerns was the east side of North Milwaukee Street between the 204 to 230 address numbers. Installation there could be coordinated with street work that is planned, helping to reduce the cost, officials 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 most expensive portion would be $39,650 for a 1,220-foot stretch on the west side of North Milwaukee Street starting at 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.

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

    • 2020 — 204 to 230 N. Milwaukee St. on the east side of the street and Fillmore Street on the east side from the south end of the street to the parking lot at Stoney Creek Park. Total cost of $27,755, with homeowners paying $7,255.

    • 2021 — 303 Washington Ave. on the north side of property on North Wilson, from 222 N. Wilson to 321 Martin Drive on the east side of the street and the west side of Highland Drive from Fredonia Avenue to Regal Drive. Total cost of $22,620, with homeowners paying $10,620

    • 2022 — The west side of North Milwaukee Street from Martin Drive to the north end of the street. Total cost of $39,500, with homeowners paying $19,150.

    • 2023 — Fillmore Street from Stoney Creek Park to Martin Drive on the east side. Total cost of $35,035, with homeowners paying $14,535.

    • 2024 — 239 Meadowbrook Drive to South Milwaukee Street and South Milwaukee Street from Meadowbrook Drive to 212 S. Milwaukee Street. Total cost of $26,280, with homeowners paying $9,650.