Two obstacles still remain in the completion of the State Street reconstruction project.
For many weeks, State Street in Hillsdale, Mich., has been under construction, forcing through traffic to be redirected. But the project is now almost finished, with a final paving day scheduled for Oct. 3 and a completion date of Oct. 5, according to City Manager Linda Brown.
The first obstacle was the construction of a sidewalk on both sides of the intersection of State Street and Buena Vista Drive. At a Hillsdale City Council meeting on Oct. 1, however, Mayor Doug Moon confirmed the sidewalk is being built only to satisfy the Michigan Department of Transportation and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“We should really take a look at how ridiculous this is,” said councilperson Mary Wolfram. “This piece of sidewalk is leading us to spend more money. It’s high time the people, government entities, school systems, and everyone involved in these things act.”
Wolfram said that a letter to the state would be the best course of action. But Keith Richard, an engineer also involved with the State Street project, said that might not do anything, since the sidewalk is a federal standard.
“A few years ago, when we were doing another project and had a similar problem, a state official said to us: ‘If that ramp doesn’t go in, we’re going to take our money and go into another town,’” Richard said.
Local resident Ed Crouch also raised objections at the meeting to the project’s methods. Crouch said that the road work shifted the State Street/Buena Vista right-of-way into his yard, creating a steep grade where before it was gradual. Crouch requested that the city construct a three-foot wall on the edge of his property, without which he would not be able to mow his lawn with a riding mower.
“If it’s your house, what would you do?” Crouch asked the council. “The road has always been where it’s at. I just want something reasonable, like what I did before.”
Project Engineer Matt Taylor estimated that a wall would cost about $5,000.
Council members were divided on the issue. Councilperson Wolfram said that, while a wall might look better than other options, she push-mowed a much steeper yard at her childhood home. Councilperson Brown said that she sympathized with the Crouches, but still was not comfortable with the idea of a wall.
“Everybody’s got to compromise for the greater good,” Brown said.
Councilperson Watkins said that the city compromised with a group of State Street residents, not Crouch individually, and that this issue affects Crouch in particular.
“To say that all should give for the greater good while we don’t is a bit out of line,” said Watkins.
After further discussion, Wolfram made a motion to table this discussion for the time being, to allow Taylor and Richard to come up with other possible options. This motion passed, 9-0.
Crouch, for his part, said that he wants to resolve the issue with as little disruption to his own property as possible.
jbutler@hillsdale.edu
