Wittenberg board OKs sidewalk construction

Construction of sidewalks took another step forward in Wittenberg at the Sept. 7 Wittenberg Village Board meeting.

The board voted to move forward with constructing sidewalks on Genesee Street but to hold off on five other streets in order to apply for a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

“We are about 90% done with the designs on Genesee and Grand Avenue,” said Abby Maslanka, a representative of Martenson & Eisele Inc. “We are about 40-50% done through the remaining four.”

The construction of Genesee Street will begin in 2022.

“My only feedback is dealing with those telephone poles,” said board president Bill Switalla.

Maslanka said that Martenson and Eisele has yet to get into communication with Cirrinity/Wittenberg Telephone Company about when they would be able to move the poles.

“We are anticipating an answer on that this year,” said Maslanka.”If we do not get that answer this year, we might have to wait until 2023.”

Board trustee David Timm said that he will talk to Scott Nyman of Cirrinity at the next Wittenberg Area Development Committee meeting.

Switalla offered up the idea of pouring the cement around the telephone poles in order to get the project done.

“I would hate to move the whole sidewalk for two poles,” said Switalla.

Maslanka said that she doesn’t not recommend this idea.

“I wouldn’t recommend doing that before the telephone company comes in, because they are going to tear up your brand new sidewalk with their equipment,” said Maslanka.

In order to get sidewalks done on Genesee Street, the money would have to come from the village, due to the board waiting on a state Transportation Alternatives Program grant for the other five streets. Genesee Street is a concern due to safety issues.

“We have the money saved,” said village clerk Traci Matsche.

If the village does qualify for the TAP grant, construction of the other five streets would begin in 2024.

Maslanka said that if the board was able to complete construction on Genesee Street, it would show initiative for the grant.

The board unanimously agreed to start construction on Genesee Street in the summer of 2022.

In a separate motion, the board unanimously agreed for Martenson and Eisele to finish designs for all six sections of the sidewalks.

“We have to pay for the design right now,” said Timm. “The design will still be good until 2024.”

“You can then decide to bid it whenever,” said Maslanka.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com