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Residents press for Court Street reconstruction and nonmotorized pathway; council cites grants and interagency timeline
Summary
Residents and council members discussed pavement-preservation bids for Court Street, called for a nonmotorized pathway, and raised litter concerns near the Walmart on Court Street. Officials said reconstruction may be part of a 2027 county-led project and that city grants have supported pedestrian improvements elsewhere.
A legal notice for Court Street pavement preservation and a 2027 county reconstruction plan prompted residents to urge Burton City Council to prioritize a nonmotorized pathway and road repairs.
Patrick Dardo, a resident of 6119 Hugh Street, told the council that a legal notice in the Feb. 20 edition of the Genesee View announced bids due March 11 for Court Street pavement preservation and that the notice surprised him because the community had discussed a larger reconstruction with the Genesee County Road Commission in 2027. "This notice drew my concern," Dardo said, adding that Court Street "really needs work" and that a pathway is "not a want, but a need for Court Street." He asked whether the shorter-term pavement work would delay the anticipated 2027 joint reconstruction.
Alan Squires, a resident at 4511 Cross Creek Boulevard, added that traffic volume and new businesses along Court Street mean the corridor "deserves better pavement" and raised repeated complaints about litter across from Walmart, near Wall Street. Squires and other residents described doing volunteer cleanups and urged the city to contact Walmart management or consider other remedies.
Council members responded that reconstruction scheduling and funding often depend on county priorities and how funds can be used to complete entire segments rather than isolated patches. Councilman Smith said he has driven and biked the stretch and described it as "scary," and he praised recent grant-funded work that has made parts of the city more walkable.
Dardo said the notice included a March 11 bid date; council members reiterated that some larger projects require coordination with the Genesee County Road Commission and that full reconstruction could be several years away. The council did not approve any immediate funding or change the advertised bid schedule at the meeting.
Residents highlighted two distinct concerns: immediate pavement preservation (bids due March 11, legal notice published Feb. 20) and a longer-term engineered reconstruction that would include a nonmotorized pathway, which community members said is essential for pedestrian safety. The council said staff would continue coordinating with county partners and that grant programs have helped other pedestrian projects in Burton.
