Caledonia Argus

Council to help fund road and walkway

Posted: 9/24/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The Caledonia City Council reaffirmed its commitment to fund half the cost of a paved walkway and road on land which is expected to be acquired shortly through eminent domain. The road will be a continuation of the current Esch Drive and provide a second access to Caledoniaís new school.

Two representatives of the school board, Charles Wray and David Klinski, attended the councilís meeting Monday night to discuss plans for the walkway and road.

The city had agreed to pay half the cost of construction of the road, but the original motion did not include a walkway. At Mondayís meeting, the council agreed to pay up to $20,000 for half the cost of constructing the road and the walkway.

The proposed 45-ft. road will be constructed to the appropriate grade, but for now will have only rock as a surface in case it needs to be moved at a later date to accommodate utilities or other development. There will be no curb or gutter. The 8-ft. walkway will have a bituminous surface in order to keep the students from tracking dirt and mud into the new school.

ìOnce we start to build, the concern is to build the road at the proper grade so the water has somewhere to go,î commented Mayor Robert Burns.

School board member David Klinski told the council that construction on Esch Drive could begin within a couple of weeks. The land will be appraised, and then surveyed, and at that point construction can begin.

The vote to fund half the cost of the road and walkway was 4-1 with Burns voting in the negative.

ìI was against it the first time and I havenít changed my mind,î he said. Mayor Burns had favoring finishing Kruckow Avenue, which runs by the cityís well and substation, before Esch Drive.

It was noted that plan are continuing for a walkway along the highway from Main Street to Foltz Drive, and Dairy Queen has indicated that it would participate in having sidewalks put in, Clerk Robert Nelson reported.

Council gets raise

In other news, the council agreed to increase wages for members by $100/year. That means that the mayor will now earn $2,500 annually, and council members will receive $2,300. Special meetings remained at $20 each.

The only time the council is allowed to give itself raises is in an election year. The last raise was two years ago.

ìNo one is here for the money,î said Mayor Burns. ìIf the wages were commensurate with the duties, maybe people would run. Itís a sad commentary that people donít run for office.î

The mayor and two council members, Paul Fisch and Randi Vick, are up for reelection. No one has filed against any of them.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of a raise, with Fisch voting against.

Also on the subject of money, the council voted to give liquor store clerks a starting wage of $6.50 per hour, to be increased to $7.50 per hour after three months. The former wages were $5.15 as a starting wage and $6.30 after six months. Councilman Fisch noted that the liquor store will remain profitable after the raises are in effect.

Top of Page