Council approves 2025 street resurfacing contract; debate focuses on sidewalks and 'complete streets' timing

Oxford City Council voted to accept the low bid from Barrett Paving Materials Inc. for the 2025 street resurfacing and maintenance program and to authorize the city manager to execute the contract. The base bid for the proposed streets was $577,969.30; alternate 1 was $79,184.50 and a contingency of $42,846.20 was included for a total not to exceed $700,000. Council adopted the resolution by voice vote.

Public-works staff summarized the scope and said two alternates were bid: North Elm Street (Church to Sycamore) and the surface course for the Heritage Vineyard subdivision. Staff noted the developer for the subdivision plans to complete their work this summer with their contractor; after successful inspection the city will accept the streets for maintenance.

Several councilors raised policy questions about the city’s complete-streets goals, noting that several streets on the list lack sidewalks or other multimodal accommodations because they were built before modern subdivision requirements. A councilor said the city’s policy requires that when a paving project occurs the city should ensure all modes are served or else adopt a written exemption. Staff said they have an ongoing effort—curb/gutter/sidewalk assessment and an inventory including right-of-way, utilities, tree removal and cost estimates—and that the city will attempt to secure grant funding to pay for required sidewalks where possible. Staff also said Locust Street will have a sidewalk-connection project this year with 90% grant funding.

Staff explained tradeoffs: using paving funds to retrofit sidewalks would reduce the number of streets the city could repave and accelerate deterioration of the overall street network. Councilors asked staff to bring a recommended approach and potential budget numbers to the upcoming budget process. The resolution was approved by voice vote.