by Leanne Loy
A public hearing was held on Jan. 18 to discuss 2022 street improvements in the St. Joseph area. City Engineer, Randy Sabart presented the plans for potential improvements coming in 2022 which can be found on the City of St. Joseph website. The presentation showcased which areas need improvement, what needs to be done, such as overlay and reclaiming and what the cost to the city and its residents would potentially look like.
Residents approached the podium with questions and concerns about the expense, the need for the improvements and parking when and if these improvements take place.
Sabart assured the residents that they are aware of the concerns and are taking them all into consideration. When the question of necessity came up Sabart shared that even though the streets may not look like they need fixing, the point is to catch them before they get to that point which could potentially cost the city and its residents more money in the long run.
“We are staying on top of the maintenance,” Sabart stated, “doing what we need to do to maintain the integrity of the streets. Or we do nothing and then we risk getting to the point of no return.”
One citizen sent in an email stating that they, “…see this project as a waste of money.” This brought up more of the same scrutiny.
The presentation gave a breakdown of the probable costs for both the city and the residents. See table below.
Sabart believes that they have taken all of the costs into consideration and does not see a drastic change in prices for the upcoming year.
For information or to pose questions please go to the city’s website at: https://www.cityofstjoseph.com/
