SIDEWALKS IN PHILLIPS: UPDATE ON DOUBLE CURB, GRANTS, AND TIMELINE

[My Northern Wisconsin]

   
Image Credit:  Ayres Associates

The sidewalks in Phillips were last replaced in the summer of 1996.  Twenty-nine years later, the council is hoping to have them replaced by the end of October 2025.

At the July 1, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, Ayres Associates presented a contract for the administration of the sidewalk project.  In the contract, it showed that Ayres Associates would charge $10,000 to apply for the DOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant.  Alderman Mark Brzeskiewicz pointed out that line item, which started discussion regarding if the city should apply for the grant given the concern that the competitive grant may not be awarded.  Justin, from Ayres Associates, said that items, such as bike racks, could be added to the application to make it more attractive to receive the grant, but he could not guarantee the city would get a competitive grant, as it depended on which other projects applied and how the city's project would rank amongst those other projects.  Also, since the grant's application deadline is mid-October 2025, the sidewalk project could not be completed until 2026.  Business owners had previously questioned how the sidewalk project will get done in 2025 at this late stage, but the council members said they want it completed in 2025.  The council asked the few business owners who were in attendance if they wanted it completed this year.  Mayor Chuck Peterson stated, at the start of the meeting, that public comment would be allowed at the start of the meeting but not during the meeting, so business owners replied by shaking their heads "yes" and "no" in response to getting the project done this year.  Lynda Ludwig had arrived late and did not know comment was not allowed during the meeting, so she said that the city would score higher on the grant than Price County United Limited (PCUL) did when it applied for a sidewalk grant a number of years ago, because the city will score higher than a citizen or group.  Justin agreed that a city submitting the application would score higher.  Alderman John Klimowski stopped Lynda from speaking further, stating that the mayor had said no one could speak during the meeting, though he realized she had not heard that information since she arrived later in the meeting.  At prior meetings, Kathy Billek had volunteered to write for the grant at no cost to the city, and Lynne Bohn offered her assistance with the grant writing.  Kathy has written for grants in the past and has knowledge and experience with proper grant writing.  The offer from these two business owners was not taken by the council.

(Article continues after promotional message)

Birchland Realty specializes in commercial, residential, recreational, and vacant land real estate.  Visit Birchland Realty's website to find your new property.

During public comment at the July 8, 2025 Common Council meeting, Lynne Bohn presented the concerns, questions, and comments of over twenty business owners.  Lynne read text from the business owners, stating, "Since it was brought up at last week's meeting that perhaps the grant portion of the Ayres contract should be taken out, business owners are asking the council to keep it in and to look for any grants, because the council has said in and outside of meetings they would love to get us grants and would do anything they could to get us grants, which should mean Ayres would apply for grants."  Aside from the grants aspect, Lynne stated that business owners had questions and concerns with the new "terrace."  Some business owners were concerned that the slightly slanted, red terrace will be unsafe, unattractive, and not give enough room for sidewalk displays.  Some were concerned that the concrete will not cure well in the fall or that the bids will be higher as contractors try to fit it into their schedule at the end of the year.  Some were concerned that if a concrete contractor has openings so late in the year, perhaps that shows they don't get many contracts, and their work may not be as good.  It was also expressed that, as mentioned at a previous meeting by Lynda Ludwig, the State of Wisconsin should be contacted to help with the double curb issue.  Since the sidewalks cannot be completed until after the DOT is done with the road project, there is no time-savings trying to complete the project this year and some wondered why there is a rush to complete the project this year.  The letter stated the exact thoughts of one business owner, which summarized well the thoughts of many, which was, "I would vote more for slowing down, proceeding methodically, looking at grants, and not trying to beat the weather."

The council discussed the possibility of applying for a grant and answered some of the business owners' questions.  Ultimately, the council decided to keep the grant language in the contract but not pursue grants at this time.

Justin presented the sidewalk plan diagrams.  Since a five-foot terrace would have infringed on business owners' properties, and easements would have been needed, or a jogging of the sidewalk may have occurred, the terrace was scaled back from five feet to three feet.  The maximum pitch will be 8.1%.  The terrace will be colored and possibly stamped.  The terrace will only be on the west side from Subway to the former Wells Fargo bank building, which will eliminate the double curb that starts at the auto parts store and continues to the old bank.  The colored terrace will not be in any other area.

(Article continues after promotional message)

Deer Creek Angus, LLC has a large selection of Black Angus burgers, steaks, roasts, and other beef products sold by individual packages and in quarters, halves, and whole.  Contact Deer Creek Angus, LLC at 715-550-6156, find products & pricing on their website, and follow their Facebook page.

At the August 5, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, Justin presented diagrams for the sidewalk project and showed the stamped pattern and color options, as he stated the terrace does not have to be red.  The terrace area will be paid for by the city; the business owners are responsible for five lineal feet of actual sidewalk.  The city chose four colors (shadow slate, sienna, lanon stone, and clary sage) and three stamped pattern options (stone, brick, or brushed with no stamped pattern) for the affected business owners to vote upon.  Alderman John Klimowski suggested that the best option would be the cheapest option.  Anne Baxter voiced that she did not think the city should pick the cheapest option but should select what will look best in our city.  Justin also discussed that the double curb could be eliminated by the bait shop with a ramp for handicapped access, but this would mean the bait shop would need to buy a new door that would swing the opposite direction it does now.  The step would then we near the building; therefore, the step would not be fully eliminated due to there not being enough space, so the business owner preferred to leave the curb as is in that location.  The council agreed to proceed as the business owner preferred.  Lauren Ball was concerned if salt, in the winter, would degrade the textured pattern and also questioned if business owners would be responsible for cleaning the snow off the terrace given business owners are only required to pay for five feet of sidewalk.  Alderman Dick Heitkemper stated his stamped concrete handles the salt.  Jim Heizler, Department of Public Works, stated the business owners would continue to remove snow from the entire sidewalk, including the new terrace.

   
The image shows the color choices.  The outer color swatches were presented to the business owners in a survey from the city, which was taken from a file from the company.  The inner color swatches came from a photo of the page of colors, which were presented by Ayres Associates at the meeting; the photo was taken by My Price County.  The colors shown online versus in-person have different shade variations, so these swatches show a general concept of the colors.

The city plans to approve the contract with Ayres Associates at the next meeting on August 12 so that bids can be put out that day through late August.  At the September meetings, a bid could be selected.  The city hopes the sidewalk project will get completed by the end of October 2025 if all goes according to plan.


EVENT REMINDER:  Get your PRICE COUNTY garage sale listed for free by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025, by sending a message to contact@mypricecounty.com.  Event details can be found at this link.  The garage sales event will be held from August 14 - 17, 2025.  Cap off Saturday by enjoying PACC's Phillips on Tap that evening.