By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
In a move that runs counter to a decision made by their northerly neighbors, Village of Rochester officials this month nixed a proposal to install decorative light fixtures during the upcoming reconstruction of Highways 83 and 20.
In 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will undertake an extensive revamp of the arterial roadways in Rochester and the Village of Waterford.
DOT’s work will include removing and replacing curb and gutter and concrete pavement, in addition to replacing or adding storm sewer, installing new sidewalks and multi-use paths and replacing certain utilities.
Waterford officials have been reviewing the Highway 83-20 project for several years and have planned a series of accents aimed at sprucing up the downtown commercial corridor.
One of the steps Waterford is taking is the installation of new decorative streetlights. As part of the arrangement, Waterford and the DOT will evenly split the cost of installing the lights. Once the work is complete, the village will assume the cost of maintaining the lights.
In September, Janet Cannon, the DOT project manager overseeing the Highway 83-20 project, wrote a letter to Rochester officials asking if there would be interest in following Waterford’s lead in the project.
“If the standard lighting is extended from the southern Waterford limits to (Highway) 36, through the Village of Rochester, there would be an estimated 10 new lighting poles,” Cannon wrote in a letter to Rochester.
Cost estimates were not kgiven. But dollar figures were irrelevant as Rochester officials conducted their recent review. The Village Board on Oct. 13 voted Oct. 13 not to move forward with any such proposal.
During their recent review, board members asserted they want to maintain a distinctive difference from Waterford.
“It makes it look like a continuation of the Village of Waterford,” Trustee Gary Beck said of the streetlight proposal. “I don’t have anything against the Village of Waterford. I just don’t think we need the lights.”
Because only a small portion of the reconstruction area is within Rochester’s municipal limits, Trustee Ed Chart said he does not believe the expenditure is in the village’s best interests.
Prior to the Village Board’s deliberation of the decorative lights, members of the Public Works Committee had reviewed the proposal and gave a similar recommendation to not move forward with plans.
With the countdown to construction work drawing closer, DOT officials continue to dialogue with local leaders about the upcoming highways 83/20 reconstruction project.
Relations between the DOT and Village of Waterford officials have at times been stressed as the project proceeds through the review process.
In March, Waterford officials were informed the DOT planned to cut its contribution toward aesthetic improvements in half — from 3 percent to 1.5 percent — for planned streetscaping work. Budget cuts at the state level were sited as the reason for the reduction.
DOT’s decision drew criticism from Waterford’s leaders, who allege poor communication with the state agency.
-
-
-
-
-