Main Avenue sidewalk project topic of Monday meeting

(Above) New ADA compliant sidewalk ramps at Main Avenue intersections will create some unsightly problems at buildings, such as The Red Geranium at 3rd and Main. The area shaded in orange will be exposed when new sidewalks are installed as much as four-inches lower than existing walks.

The Clear Lake City Council will meet in special session Monday, Aug. 22, to move forward with the resolution of necessity for the Main Avenue Sidewalk Reconstruction Project.

At a meeting earlier this month, the Council rejected a recommendation to incorporate “bump outs” at downtown Main Street intersections included in the project.   Jason Petersburg, of Veenstra & Kimm, the consulting engineer for the $711,000 project, suggested that to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) islands should be created to construct ADA compliant sidewalk ramps.

City Council members unanimously opposed the bump-out islands, saying they would hamper snow removal efforts downtown.

The only other option offered by V&K is to utilize the convention method of constructing the ramps in the roadway radius.  However, Petersburg noted the method will produce undesirable grades and grade changes to ensure ADA requirements are met.  Building tie in elevations will need to be lowered “drastically” in most intersection corners.  Due to the elevations changing, building owners will need to alter their current building facade to accommodate the sidewalk being much lower adjacent to the building.  The former Corner Drug building and The Red Geranium building will be most impacted, according to Petersburg.

Notices to the affected property owners, who will be assessed for a portion of the work,  have been mailed by the city.  Bid letting for the project is proposed for Aug. 31,