Fremont board approves new sidewalks
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on May 19, 2004 2:01 PM
FREMONT -- Construction of new sidewalks on the first block of East Main Street in Fremont will not begin for three or four weeks.
The work was supposed to be completed last December as part of the $435,000 downtown revitalization project, including the renovation of Town Hall. But officials said a subcontractor's rising costs caused the delay.
Tom Barnes, the town's retiring administrator, said during Tuesday night's monthly town board meeting that the general contractor, Sam Sasser of Fremont, was getting prices from other subcontractors. Barnes said Sasser should have an answer in a week.
Barnes said work on the north side would be completed before work on the south side would begin. He explained that street lights would have to be finished on the north side before the old ones and the power poles can be replaced on the south side.
"It will be an inconvenience," Barnes said, "but I don't know any other way around it."
Barnes said he will visit each business on the street and explain the project. He said access to each business will be maintained. Ramps will be built over the construction areas so that all businesses can stay open.
The board also discussed a list of numerous street-paving and patching projects and sidewalk repairs but took no action.
Mayor Devone Jones said he had found out about the list in November and that it was a slow process to get the done.
"Fremont is not real rich," Jones said. "Give us time, and we'll work on it. We want Fremont to grow."