Caledonia Argus

City meets with MnDOT to discuss plans for walkway

Posted: 7/9/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Representatives of the city council met with MnDOT officials last week to discuss plans for a walkway which would lead to the new school. They reported on the discussion at Mondayís regular City Council meeting.

Councilman Paul Fisch and Mayor Robert Burns, along with David Klinski of the ISD #299 School Board and Jim Kochie and Michael Davy of Davy Engineering, traveled to Rochester to discuss plans with officials.

According to Councilman Fisch, in order to be approved by MnDot, the walkway would have to have at least two feet of clear space on each side, which canít include any portion of street.

The proposed plan calls for the walkway to be placed on the east side of Highway 44/76.

MnDot representatives recommended that the crosswalk not be at the present intersection, but to the south of that with a walkway positioned so that it goes between the AmericInn Motel and Land Oí Lakes, and behind Tri County Electric and the city property.

Mayor Burns said he can see the advantages to that idea, but added, ìWe still promote crossing at Esch Drive.î

Currently, there is no access to the school via Esch Drive, but the city and school have begin an eminent domain action to acquire land for an extension of Esch Drive to the school.

Also discussed was the speed limit in that area, currently 45 mph. Burns reported that there is a possibility that a school-zone speed limit could be implemented, which would lower the speed limit to 30 mph for 45 minutes in the morning opens and 45 minutes in the afternoon after school.

The officials asked what the long range plan for the are will be, and he responded that there should be an overpass or underpass there for students to cross. The officials favored the overpass idea, said Burns, and suggested that the city apply for a grant that would assist in the building of one. The grant would not be available for four years, unless a grant recipient drops out, in which case it will become available sooner. Information on the grant was forwarded to Community Development Director Joyce Iverson.

Davy Engineering will be submitting a more formal plan to MnDOT this week.

In other news, the city scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday, July 15, to discuss pay equity issues with personnel specialist Paul Ness. The city received a non-compliance report on pay equity several months ago and recently resubmitted a revised report.

The price for the specialist is $75/hr.

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