WAYNE – A regularly scheduled Wayne City Council meeting was held earlier this week pertaining to possible grant funding and a ‘conceptual master plan’ on lake development was presented.
From council chambers inside City Hall, a request item first approached the board on the Wayne State College ‘Family Day Football Game’. Director of Athletics, Mike Powicki talked about the fireworks display that happens following the conclusion of the September 24 football game. More information to come in future council meetings as the event draws closer.
A project which has been talked about for around 12 years is continuing a sidewalk from the middle of the cemetery, north of the high school, all the way west towards Dollar General along HWY 35.
Wayne Mayor Cale Giese said there are drainage issue and making it ADA accessible was among complications.
“So, we’ve always delayed it; we’ve pushed it off, we’ve pushed it off,” said Giese. “We finally got an estimate. It’ going to cost probably about $850,000 we’re guessing but we saw this opportunity, which was what the public hearing was for, for matching funds from the state.”
Roughly $450,000 in state funding could assist with the drainage issues and possibly enclose the ditches on the north side of Highway 35.
Council is hoping estimates come in much lower as staff goes after grant funding. Council members also discussed is it worth the money or do they invest in a better cross walk with a sidewalk already on the south side of the highway.
The concept design for what is being done with the lagoon revitalization project will feature a lake as well as recreational fields. Stool to Cool Task Force members had the next step in the process approved earlier this week.
Mayor Giese added an important piece is to get the area ready for grading.
“Right now, if you were to go down there, you’d see just a lot of dirt,” Giese added. “Well, we need to get that dirt so that it all slopes where we want to, so it’s prepared for when we dig the lake. Then we’re going to have to seed it to something, so that we don’t just have bare dirt growing weeds down there.”
Reach out to the Stool to Cool Task Force, mayor Giese, council or city staff with any questions.
An update was provided from City of Wayne lawyers on strategy for the BJ Woehler/Brad Roberts law suit against the City of Wayne on the potential litigation matter during the R. Perry Construction, Inc. project.
Mayor Giese mentioned what the City of Wayne is pursuing.
“But if it goes any further for the next step,” Giese mentioned. “Which hopefully it does not for just taxpayer’s sake and time sake then we’ll have to pursue gaining outside council and going through insurance to fight this lawsuit.”
Council also approved the request from Hannah Rathjen to keep a blue tongue skink in Neihardt Hall on the campus of Wayne State College also within city limits.
The UV light is part of the sterilization process on the sanitary sewer system. When the system was constructed, the low bidder had to be accepted but that company went out of business a few years after installation. The scope of services for the “Wastewater Treatment Facility Ultraviolet Light Improvement Project” with JEO Consulting Group, Inc. was approved for $44,200.
Parking requirements were also on the agenda for the southwest quadrant pertaining to the new Chicago Street as well as Lincoln Street but those who live or are visiting near the area of west 1st and north on Lincoln Street should be prepared for potential parking changes.
Mayor Giese is again looking for a representative for Ward 3 which is the northwest part of town. Roughly north of seventh street and west of Main Street. Those interested can reach out to City Hall or Mayor Giese to get under consideration.
PMC has also made other arrangements for parking along Providence road which would have caused issues since the road is busy in traffic while also being an emergency route.
The next regularly scheduled Wayne City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, September 6 at 5:30 p.m.
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