Stratford to award bid March 12 for street project
By Kevin O’Brien
Stratford trustees will award a bid next month for a project slated to start in mid-May on Monarch Street and Jasper and Allington avenues. Engineer Dan Knoeck of MSA Professional Services told the village board last week that his company plans to host a virtual bid opening on Feb. 22, with a recommendation on a contractor going to the public works committee at its Feb. 27 meeting. Ultimately, the village board will be asked to award a contract at its March 12 meeting for the estimated $1.1 million project.
“Our intent is to get letters out to property owners in mid to late April once we know the construction schedule and the contractor,” he said, noting that the letters will address issues such as parking, trash pickup and mail delivery during construction.
The project will involve reconstructing about 1,500 feet of roadway, including Monarch Street, from Jasper Avenue to STH 97; Jasper Avenue, from STH 153 to Monarch Street; and Allington Avenue, from STH 153 to Monarch Street. Water and sewer mains, along with curb and gutter, will be replaced along the construction corridor.
The sidewalk on Monarch Street will also be replaced, as will driveway aprons on all three streets, according to the bid advertisement. In November, the board voted to nix plans for adding sidewalks on Jasper and Allington after concerns were raised by local residents.
The project will be partially funded by a $213,000 grant from the state’s Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP), which was awarded to the village in 2022. In September, the village board signaled its intent to special assess residents on the three streets for improvements planned in front of their properties.
Knoeck said substantial completion of the project is expected by Aug. 30, with a Sept. 13 deadline for final completion.
“We’re in good shape with an early bidding schedule this season,” he said. “We’re expecting some favorable bids.”
Other business
n Fire commissioner Troy Wiesman told the board that Stratford firefighters recently attended a training on how to handle the new electric school bus purchased by the Edgar School District, in case it were involved in an accident. Wiesman also said the department’s second ambulance, Med 2, was put into service on Jan. 4.
Wiesman also reported that the department received a $2,000 grant from WeatherShield to help with ambulance expenses, and the firefighters donated $13,500 toward the purchase of a LUCAS device, which is used to give automated chest compressions for cardiac patients.
In other fire department news, Wiesman said a committee of firefighters, commissioners and others has been formed to look at options for replacing one of the local fire trucks in two years.
n DPW Scott Dennee said his crew has switched out nearly all of the village’s electric meters with new iPERL units.
n The board approved an update to Chapter 396: Peace and Good Order ordinance, adding graffiti to the list of offenses that local police can issue citations for under state statute. Police chief Thomas Koontz said the change was recommended after a recent paintball incident, which didn’t qualify as criminal property damage.
n During his monthly report, Chief Koontz said an order for a new squad vehicle has been placed with Chevrolet, and delivery is expected sometime in May. He said the department will transfer whatever equipment it can from the village’s old Tahoe to save money. n The board approved the full-time employment of Claire Schroeder, who recently took over as the new deputy clerk.
n The board adopted an amendment to the protective covenant deed restrictions in the village’s business/industrial park. The resolution adopting the amendment says the covenants were first adopted in 1989 and recorded with the Marathon County Register of Deeds on Dec. 22, 2023.
