2008 Woodie Awards
Petitions spark response for new Mount Pleasant sidewalks
By: Nick Persons
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
Schoolchildren may have a safer trek through downtown Mount Pleasant.
In response to citizen petitions, the Mount Pleasant City Commission will consider implementing a new sidewalk on Broadway Street. The pathway would run from Williams Street to the east city limits on either side of the street. If approved, construction could begin as soon as this spring, said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger.
"I'm a proponent of sidewalks," she said. "Certainly where there are children walking to school, there should be sidewalks."
Grinzinger said the next step is to evaluate and discuss the price of the project.
"If the city commission sees that (estimated costs) are acceptable, they will include the costs in the capital budget," Grinzinger said.
Mount Pleasant resident Edwin Gray, who lives on Broadway, proposed the idea. He said children are forced to walk through residents' lawns to get to school.
"There's quite a bit of foot-traffic there," Gray said. "Now is the time to address this issue."
Adding crosswalks also would help improve safety, he said.
Grinzinger said a proper sidewalk system is essential to a city.
"You can't have a walkable, well-joined community without sidewalks," she said.
While construction would occur in Gray's front lawn and he would be responsible for paying a portion of the cost, he said it didn't bother him. Commissioner Kathy Ling commended Gray's altruism.
"I was glad to see this," she said.
New Law Firm
The commission also approved rearranging the city's law services.
Lynch, Gallagher, Lynch, Martineau and Hackett, P.L.L.C., which has handled all of the city's legal matters for more than 50 years, will now only deal with prosecutorial affairs.
General counsel issues will now be handled by Clark Hill P.L.C., a Midwest law firm.
"It was an extremely hard decision," Grinzinger said. "We have a long and loyal relationship with Lynch, Gallagher, Lynch."
In response to citizen petitions, the Mount Pleasant City Commission will consider implementing a new sidewalk on Broadway Street. The pathway would run from Williams Street to the east city limits on either side of the street. If approved, construction could begin as soon as this spring, said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger.
"I'm a proponent of sidewalks," she said. "Certainly where there are children walking to school, there should be sidewalks."
Grinzinger said the next step is to evaluate and discuss the price of the project.
"If the city commission sees that (estimated costs) are acceptable, they will include the costs in the capital budget," Grinzinger said.
Mount Pleasant resident Edwin Gray, who lives on Broadway, proposed the idea. He said children are forced to walk through residents' lawns to get to school.
"There's quite a bit of foot-traffic there," Gray said. "Now is the time to address this issue."
Adding crosswalks also would help improve safety, he said.
Grinzinger said a proper sidewalk system is essential to a city.
"You can't have a walkable, well-joined community without sidewalks," she said.
While construction would occur in Gray's front lawn and he would be responsible for paying a portion of the cost, he said it didn't bother him. Commissioner Kathy Ling commended Gray's altruism.
"I was glad to see this," she said.
New Law Firm
The commission also approved rearranging the city's law services.
Lynch, Gallagher, Lynch, Martineau and Hackett, P.L.L.C., which has handled all of the city's legal matters for more than 50 years, will now only deal with prosecutorial affairs.
General counsel issues will now be handled by Clark Hill P.L.C., a Midwest law firm.
"It was an extremely hard decision," Grinzinger said. "We have a long and loyal relationship with Lynch, Gallagher, Lynch."
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