City considers sidewalk between DQ, bridge

The city of Jamestown will continue to investigate the feasibility of putting in approximately two blocks of sidewalk between Dairy Queen and the bridge east of it, the Public Works Committee decided Thursday.

“We’re approaching this very slowly and carefully,” said Reed Schwartzkopf, city engineer. “… the approach is very slow, very conservative and very much in consideration of the owners’ concerns and issues.”

Much of the two-block stretch has no distinct sidewalk, and in some cases, parking lots are where a sidewalk might eventually be placed, should the council go ahead with the project.

The city does have the right of way to do the project, which would mean the addition of a 5-foot concrete sidewalk to that piece of land.

Investigation of the issue was prompted by a letter from a citizen, who cited the difficulties someone in a wheelchair would have once he or she reached the bottom of Mill Hill and tried to get to the downtown area.

Schwartzkopf will speak to the landowners, identify a project location and determine the feasibility of the project as well as the cost of the project.

“We still have to be concerned with the originating letter, because it raised a very valid problem,” Schwartzkopf said.

In other news Thursday, the committee:

* saw and discussed a proposed route for sewer and water to go to a proposed Titan Machinery development west of Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Construction costs alone for the utilities are estimated at between $800,000 and $900,000.

The matter will be discussed again at a meeting of the Jamestown City Council at 3 p.m. on Monday.

* expressed interest in developing a policy for assisting trucks with extremely large loads attempting to get through town.

Schwartzkopf said it costs about $150 for the half an hour or more it takes to successfully shepherd one such load through town.

Some of the large loads have been housing units for man camps heading to the Oil Patch, he added. The trucks are not permitted to drive on the interstate and cannot fit under some lower bridges either.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be

reached at 701-952-8453 or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, city