The Mount Pleasant City Commission took one step closer to adding five
new sidewalks in the city during their meeting Monday night.

In a 3-2 vote, the commission set a public hearing for Feb. 28 to
discuss the construction of sidewalks in the following areas:

• The south side of Fessenden Street from Bradley to Henry streets,
• The north side of Burch Street from Bradley to Henry streets,
• The east side of Henry Street from High to Fessenden streets,
• The east side of Crapo Street from Canterbury to Preston streets,
• The south side of Maple Street from Thomas to Crapo streets.

Commissioners Jon Joslin and Steve Bissell opposed the motion for
the sidewalks.

Joslin said the city was already having difficulty managing their
current sidewalks and with budget problems looming, the city should not
be constructing additional sidewalks.

“(We could) save $100,000 and put it toward some of our deficits,”
Joslin said.

The city would pay $63,376.50 of the project, while property owners
are responsible for $30,583.50

Commissioner Sharon Tilmann said she shared similar concerns as
Joslin and Bissell, but voted for the motion to hear the public’s
opinion on the issue.

“We are setting a public hearing,” she said. “ I want to hear how
the residents feel about this.”

Along with the sidewalks, the commission also unanimously passed
motions to set a Feb. 28 public hearing concerning improvements made
for two other special assessment districts. Those are:

• The construction of new curbs and gutters on both sides of Bradley
  Street from Broadway to High streets,
• The pavement of the alley and installation of a storm sewer
  between Main and University streets from Gaylord to Bellows streets.

The city would pay $48,744 for the construction of the curbs and
gutters compared to $13,176 paid by property owners. Both the
city and property owners would pay $30,000 for the alley project.

In other commission news:

The commission also unanimously approved a contract extension with
CMU for use of copiers in city hall through 2011. Nancy Ridley, city
finance director, said CMU can get copiers cheaper because of their
high volume and it would be more cost effective to work with CMU rather
than having the city buy their own.

Commissioner James Moreno said he was happy to see Mount Pleasant
and CMU work together.

“I’m glad we are going with this relationship,” he said. “Hopefully
we can enter into other collaborations.”

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