City to support East River Electric street proposal

Posted on Monday, December 21, 2009

By: CHUCK CLEMENT, Staff Reporter

The Madison City Commission gave its support on Monday to a proposal from East River Electric Power Cooperative to make one block of Harth Ave. near its Madison offices a one-way street.

The city commissioners did not move to make the portion of Harth Ave. into a one-way street, but they gave a vote of support to the proposal. East River representatives at the city meeting didn't believe that any traffic changes were necessary until the cooperative's new office building and parking lot are completed.

Jim Edwards, East River assistant general manager for operations, and Mark Hoffman, an East River civil engineer, presented plans and drawings to the commissioners that illustrated a new two-story, 17,500-square-foot office building that will stand next to current East River offices on Harth Ave. and S.E. 1st St. Contractors will construct the new office building and an accompanying parking lot at Harth Ave. and S.E. 2nd St. during 2010.

East River Co-op also plans to include improved landscaping, sidewalks and parking along the avenue. The cooperative wants to install diagonal parking along both sides of Harth Ave. in front of its offices and operations center. Edwards said the changes would improve the appearance and safety along that portion of the avenue. East River Co-op wants the construction project to serve as "a positive step forward in the City's downtown revitalization efforts."

East River Co-op has estimated that the street reconstruction project will total $200,000 for work that includes surfacing, sidewalks, storm sewer and construction services. The project timetable has the Harth Ave. reconstruction work underway in 2011.

Edwards said the cooperative was interested if the city could contribute funds to help pay for part of the Harth Ave. project. He also inquired if the city had any information about available grant money to help pay for the street work.

The commissioners did not promise any funding for the Harth Ave. project, but Mayor Gene Hexom did verify that the project wouldn't need any funding from the city until 2011.

©Madison Daily Leader 2009