Minden approves 10th Street sidewalk project

Shaving 2 feet off the west side of 10^th Street in Minden was the favored option for installing sidewalks on the route that connects Highway 395 and County Road.

The town has $700,000 to complete the streetscape project with half coming from federal recovery funds and the other half coming from the town.

Town Manager JD Frisby said putting the sidewalk along the existing street would cost around $350,000 which is pretty close to the federal dollars the town received from Douglas County for the project.

Residents who spoke all agreed that the plan was a good one, and that people travel too fast down the street that connects Highway 395 and County Road.

A narrower street would line up better with its continuation into Mackland.

“With the reduction of the road, it may assist with traffic calming measures,” Frisby said.

Frisby said the town might have enough money to underground the power lines running down the street, but that work would require cooperation with the utilities and would consume more time.

There are several power and light poles along the west side of the street, but no sidewalk.

Trying to keep the sidewalks at full width and running them around the poles would require an easement from private property owners.

The Town Board also awarded a $460,092 bid from Qualcon Construction to rehabilitate Bougainvillea Drive in Winhaven.

The work included replacement of waterline for the Winhaven Homeowners Association under the road. Frisby said the town would be reimbursed by Winhaven once the project is completed.