City manager reports progress on Fairview, Santa Fe street projects; council hears cost and scope questions

City Manager Jonathan Seitz updated the Keene City Council on Sept. 4 about ongoing street projects and other infrastructure work, noting progress on Fairview Street, unexpected conditions on Santa Fe Street and plans to pursue grants for sidewalks and downtown improvements.

Seitz said east-side curbs on Fairview are complete and west-side curbs are under construction. He told council the project was delayed because utility location work took longer than expected. Seitz said contractors had been reluctant to give a firm completion date but that “the hard parts are done.”

Council members questioned the project scope and budget. A councilmember noted a bid earlier in 2025 for Fairview near $416,000 and said a separate $50,000 allocation from the street fund was intended to extend paving toward Fourth Street; council asked whether an additional $250,000 would be required to finish to Fourth Street. Seitz said he would review the minutes and confirmed that the last section left was not in the grant scope and that staff had not proceeded with an additional $250,000 without council approval.

On Santa Fe Street, Seitz said crews found no structural road base under the asphalt; crews are now digging deeper and bringing in new road base, extending the expected work from the original one-week estimate to about two and a half weeks if rain does not delay work.

Seitz also reported the marquee sign is awaiting customs clearance in California and that city staff are preparing for October conversations about grant possibilities that could support sidewalks and downtown designation. He said staff would bring detailed grant proposals and related budget considerations in October.

Council asked staff to provide documents and minutes showing prior discussions and allocations for Fairview so members could confirm what the council previously approved and whether further appropriation would be required.