After months of talking, a project to improve U.S. Business 54 in Fulton has advanced a step.
An ordinance allowing Mayor LeRoy Benton to execute documents for this project is passing through the Fulton City Council approval stages, and had its first reading at Tuesday evening's meeting. It likely will reappear for its second reading at the Nov. 28 council meeting.
City Engineer Kyle Bruemmer ran down project details again, explaining the work will be shared with the Missouri Department of Transportation. It will address the route, which links with U.S. 54 on both the north and south outskirts of Fulton.
There will be new, improved pavement and more.
"I'm so excited," Bruemmer said. "I think this is a project that will really help, along with our 4th Street project, the way it looks when you're coming into town."
Last summer, city officials began an improvement project along 4th Street, which leads into Fulton also from U.S. 54.
The state will be responsible for the portion of U.S. Business 54, which lies to the north and south of Fulton's downtown district. It begins at the traffic circle (2nd Street intersection) and runs south. It also starts at 12th Street near Ovid Bell Press, running north.
In between, city officials plan milling and overlay of Bluff Street, curb and gutter to help with storm water runoff, improvements to access points (residential and commercial) and ADA (handicap) access to sidewalks. The city's portion will cost about $800,000, to be funded in part by a recent voter-approved storm water sales tax, which will pay about half the costs, Bruemmer said.
Overhead electric and communications lines, from Bluff and St. Louis streets to about Ovid Bell Press, will disappear from sight.
"We're teaming up with them to (bury) the lines," Bruemmer said, mentioning AT&T and Charter communications companies. "It's going to give us a face lift, guys."
Bruemmer added city employees will be involved.
"We've got the ability in-house to do a lot of that work," he said.
The city's utilities department is thinking ahead, Bruemmer said. It recently added a conduit line to a water line replacement project at Bluff and 9th streets, for future needs.
City Administrator Bill Johnson said when this work begins next summer, residents and people passing through need to be considerate.
"Between now and next summer, we need to ask for lots of patience from drivers," he said.
Also:
City workers will dig out some ditches at the wastewater treatment plant starting Nov. 24, and an odor might accompany this project.
Officials will continue to work with the YMCA of Callaway County in discussing a community swimming pool.
A resolution was approved to continue the relationship with the Callaway Chamber of Commerce.
The city's 2018 budget was approved, along with lowering speed limits to 20 miles per hour on Christopher Lane, Addison Street and East 1st Street.
An ordinance addressing a bridge replacement project on 2nd Street/Route O passed its first reading and was advanced.
The final 2017 City Council meetings will be Nov. 28 and Dec. 19.