Rotary Centennial Park and Other 2009 Construction Projects

“WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND MONROE STREETS?” (….NEXT TO THE LOCK ONE THEATRE). For several years, the Village of New Bremen has been working cooperatively with the New Bremen – New Knoxville Rotary Club to improve the canal area located at the northwest corner of State Routes 66 and 274. In summer 2008, several trees and bushes were removed in preparation for contractors to move in and begin construction of new concrete walls with cast iron posts and rope along this 100 foot section of canal – matching the Lock One area. The contractors immediately discovered that the ground conditions were very soft and not capable of holding the concrete walls as designed. Subsequently a testing rig was called in to find out what the soils would support and how deep the foundations would have to be to get to firm ground conditions. The final report indicated that foundations and footers would have to be about twenty feet deep and this additional cost is well beyond what the New Bremen-New Knoxville Rotary Club has raised for this project.

A major concern about this short stretch of canal is that the towpath embankment gets saturated every 5 or 10 years during heavy rainfalls and there is a possibility that this could give way, allowing all the water from the canal to flood the buildings along the open ditch on the west side of the canal. Each of the four engineering proposals would reduce the risk of flooding in this area. Mote Engineering, the Village Engineer for thirty years, just finished a preliminary report with four ways to complete this project- each with a cost range. A brief summary of each follows: A-Full Depth concrete walls with cast iron posts- nearly identical to the type of construction at Lock One: $577,000. B-Shallow Retaining Wall: $150,000-223,000 C-Open Grass Canal- similar to the canal south of Lock One: $34,000-149,000 D-Enclosed Canal: $85,000 The obvious difference between the four proposals is that the first three would all have water visible, as it is now. The fourth proposal would not have water visible because the existing underground pipe under State Route 274 would be extended to enclose the water flow. The ground would be shaped with a shallow depression indicating the original path of the canal and then suitable landscaping would be added by the Rotary Club. Close attention to the landscape work is needed to match the quality level of the Lock One and downtown area. This area is highly visible but the noise and fumes from truck traffic make it unlikely that individuals would stop and sit at this park to visit or read a book. The overall concept of any landscaping in this area is to maintain a clear line of sight along the path of the canal, especially when headed southbound on State Route 66. It must be visually clear how the canal lined up with the open sections of the canal between Lock One and at the ABC Center/ Westy’s Signature Flooring section. Several trees and bushes were removed last summer because they made it nearly impossible to see the original path of the canal in this area. An additional goal is to re-establish the towpath as a usable walking trail close to its original route. This was done next to the ABC/Westy’s section in 2008 while other canal work was being completed. The Rotary Club is committed to funding the landscape work as long as village government takes care of the underlying civil engineering issues. Your elected officials are seeking viewpoints of what opinion the public has of the four design concepts. The full report with drawings is available for inspection at the New Bremen Village Offices during business hours and at the New Bremen Branch Library. Comments can be made by contacting your village officials, telling the office staff when you pay your utility bill, or by using the poll elsewhere on this web site at www.newbremen.com. 2009 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS The Village has several projects in the works for the 2009 construction season. All but one of the projects are subject to the effects of income tax receipts which are unknown due to the financial situation that is affecting the national and local economy. The only project that will proceed for sure is the second phase of the Teton Subdivision Reconstruction. Deer and Front Streets were rebuilt in 2008 as the first phase along with the underlying storm sewers that were inadequate. The second phase in the works for 2009 involves Elk Street between Monroe and Fox Streets and Fox Street between Deer and Bear Streets along with the necessary storm sewers. This work utilizes a State Issue One grant of $190,000 and the construction contract is expected to awarded this spring. Additional projects planned for 2009 – subject to income tax receipts – are the resurfacing of Rummel Creek west and south of Klee Avenue. This work would be the same as was done to Klee and Post Oak Avenues in 2008. Also ready to go is the reconstruction of three alleys in town and the canal issue in the previous article. Unknown is what funds, if any, that might come to the Village from the $800 billion “Stimulus” legislation passed by the US Congress. We have the engineering ready for several street rebuilding projects (Cherry and Canal Streets) or could quickly prepare the plans for a substantial street resurfacing project.