More sidewalks coming to town

Published 6:00 am Saturday, June 26, 2004

There will be more places to safely walk in the southwest area of Oak Harbor this summer.

As part of the city’s sidewalk improvement budget, a construction crew will be building $134,871 worth of sidewalks and related street improvement — like curbs and gutters — on SW Fairhaven, SW Sixth Avenue and SW Loerland Avenue, between Heller Road and SW Overway Street.

Tuesday night, the City Council approved a budget adjustment transferring $70,000 from the arterial funds budget into the sidewalk program. Also, they approved a bid from Oak Harbor-based Island Construction to do the work.

The council members adopted a sidewalk policy last year that set aside money to build sidewalks and fill in walkway gaps around schools. There was $94,000 in the sidewalk budget. About $12,000 has been used to repair hazardous sidewalks and $12,500 is needed for gap reduction.

That left $65,000 for new construction, but $135,000 was needed for the projects. The city’s sidewalk committee, made up of two council members and a citizen, recommended that the extra funding be taken from the arterial street fund. City Engineer Larry Benfield said the funds transfer wouldn’t affect any street projects.

In addition, Benfield said city staff worked with the Oak Harbor School District in applying for a Washington State Safe Routes to School Grant, which supplies money for safety improvements along walking routes. If the district gets the grant, it could be applied to construction on SW Fairhaven and SW Sixth Street.

The City Council adopted the sidewalk policy after Councilman Paul Brewer campaigned for years to get more sidewalks built in the city, citing safety concerns. Tuesday, Mayor Patty Cohen again thanked him for his efforts.

“I commend Mr. Brewer for his stick-to-it-ness,” she said.