City staff outline $1.4 million Sanborn Street rebuild to improve safety near elementary school

City engineer Justin Heim presented a proposal to reconstruct Sanborn Street from Lynn Street to Elder Street, including replacement of sanitary sewer and water mains, some storm sewer work and sidewalk upgrades intended to improve public safety near the adjacent elementary school. Heim told the Canton Commission the project would include a 5-foot sidewalk on the west side and a 10-foot path on the east side, evaluation of street lighting and potential tree removal along the corridor.

The proposal covers utility replacement and street resurfacing with concrete gutter and asphalt surfacing. Heim said the project’s conceptual total — including construction and soft costs (engineering and related expenses) — is about $1,400,000 and that figure aligns with the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). He said current construction-market conditions informed the estimate and that designs would proceed this fall and winter if the commission supports moving forward.

Heim described a likely sequence of steps: staff would develop funding scenarios (he identified potential State Revolving Fund support for utilities and the possibility of using city sewer and water funds), present a funding package to the commission for formal approval, complete design this fall/winter, bid the project in winter and begin construction in 2026 with a target to finish before school starts in August. Heim said a formal decision point for the commission will be when the funding package is presented; if not decided that night, the first meeting in August was mentioned as a likely upcoming decision point.

Commissioners questioned technical and coordination issues. Members asked whether the storm sewer work would require crossing Keystone property; Heim said the project team would pursue a storm-sewer easement or right-of-way across that parcel and that, if the easement came later, the project would still capture stormwater at the Elder–Sanborn intersection. Commissioners asked about how far the school property and existing pickleball courts lie from the intersection; Heim estimated roughly 150 feet from Elder to the pickleball courts. He also said some driveway removals and replacements could be necessary but that most work should fit within existing right-of-way; any work outside the right-of-way would be handled through negotiated easements.

Heim and commissioners discussed sidewalk width near the school; Heim recommended the 5-foot standard on the west side while keeping a 10-foot path on the east side given site constraints, but he said staff could consider a wider west-side sidewalk as part of a broader, citywide path strategy. The presentation noted the existing water main is reportedly made of AC pipe and that staff would check pipe condition during design.

No formal action was taken on the presentation; Heim said staff would refine the cost estimate, pursue funding scenarios (including SRF and utility funds) and return with a funding package for the commission’s formal approval. The commission asked staff to remain available for follow-up and weekly progress reports during design and funding work.

Heim identified the plan’s primary objectives as improving public safety, replacing aging infrastructure and improving stormwater conveyance for the neighborhood. The commission did not vote on the Sanborn Street project during the meeting; Heim will return with funding details for a future vote.