Main Street construction project to get started soon

EDITOR’S NOTE: The editor-reporter erred in describing the Main Street project and a street widening. The project will include a left-turn lane in the middle of the street on Main from Sycamore to 133rd Avenue.

Wayland City Manager Josh Eggleston confirmed a Main Street construction project will start soon, but he’s not certain just exactly when.

Eggleston acknowledged the arrival of detour signs and other indications of a project looming, but added, “We were just as surprised as you were in the (City Hall) offices.”

With about $650,000 in local funds available, the Main Street project will include a center turning lane from as far north as Sycamore Street to to as far south as the city limits at 133rd Avenue. State and federal funding also is involved.

The 12-foot-wide lanes and a center lane of 13 feet would be concentrated on Main.

City Engineer Mickey Bittner told city officials last year the cost has skyrocketed perhaps as much as $2 million.

Eggleston said there will be a meeting Friday for discussion about the project’s particulars. He added that on-street parking will not be available in the heart of the downtown on Main Street. However, Councilman Steve Stepek made it clear downtown businesses will remain open.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the City Council:

• Learned from Chief Jim Stoddard that full-time fire inspector Jeff Smith has completed training with the state and soon will be able to perform inspections of local businesses.
• Adopted an ordinance text amendment that will permit dance halls in the central business district after granting special use permit requests.
• Had the first reading of a proposed ordinance for flood plain management provisions, as required by the federal government.
• Learned from Police Chief Scott Mattice that contract negotiations are under way for hiring a service resource officer with Wayland Union Schools, with a target starting date of Aug. 1.