Menu
Streetscape concerns linger
Although the StreetScape project is still on schedule, downtown business owners voiced traffic concerns to city officials at Tuesday's StreetScape meeting.
Barbara Trimbur, owner of Iron Star Antiques and Such, asked Fort Scott Economic Development Director Dale Bunn and Kissick Construction Company Project Superintendent Mike Eddings when the portion of Main Street between Wall Street and Old Fort Blvd. would be closed to motorists as her business is located on that block of Main, and she is a little concerned about potential parking issues.
Eddings explained to the small crowd of people, who turned out for the weekly update meeting, that portion of Main Street will not be closed to traffic for another two or three weeks. The timing of the street closing will depend on how quickly the workers are finished with the portion of Main from First to Wall streets, which is slated to be closed for about two or three weeks.
Trimbur said it would help if the city could provide signs explaining to motorists where parking can be found when traveling downtown to shop. One of her suggestions was the creation of a sign which states, "Pardon our construction. Shop downtown. Park at the Fort."
Jackie Sellers from the Senior Center, which is also located on the north end of Main Street, told Eddings and Bunn she has noticed an increase in out of town traffic, which seems to be having difficulty navigating through the downtown area. She echoed Trimbur's request for signage, which would make the navigation process a little easier. Bunn suggested each downtown business owner who has concerns speak with the Chamber of Commerce about the need for explanatory signs. This way, after taking everyone's needs into consideration, the Chamber could make a recommendation to the city for the type of signs that would most benefit everyone concerned.
Just as area residents and downtown shoppers currently have sidewalk access to all businesses on the blocked off portion of Main Street from First to Wall streets, when the construction work moves to the north end of Main Street, shoppers will have sidewalk access as well, allowing them to continue frequenting their favorite downtown stores, according to Eddings.
Thus far, the biggest challenge the construction crews have encountered during the downtown StreetScape project has been the discovery of rock, Eddings said. However, he said he is hopeful when work begins on the north end of Main, he and his crew will not encounter as much rock. Despite such difficulties, Eddings said the project is still on schedule.
Although a definite date has not been set at this time, City Commissioners will soon conduct a work session with Professional Engineering Consultants to address concerns brought up by Commissioner Jim Adams at the Sept. 2 City Commission meeting. At the meeting, Adams suggested the presence of possible discrepancies in the work that is being completed.
In response to Adam's complaint, Bruce Remsby, an engineer for Professional Engineering Consultants, said in a letter, "First, I would point out that the primary responsibility for interpretation of the specifications fall with the Engineer (General Conditions 9.04). The recognition that variations from the specifications may be proper is reflected in GC 9.05. I hope you recognize that in any project, particularly one in which has as many uncertainties as a rehab in an old area, requires those involved to have the ability to react to conditions as they are."
Neither Bunn nor City Manager Joe Turner had any additional information to offer at this time.