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Arcola council approves $484,620 street-rehab package, will seek easements before paving private drives
Summary
The Arcola City Council approved a $484,620.23 contract with Kalusa Inc. for asphalt overlays on multiple streets, directing staff to secure easements before spending on roads determined to be private; council debated legal limits on improving streets without property interest.
The Arcola City Council voted Nov. 18 to approve a street rehabilitation project estimated at $484,620.23, covering Powell, Peach, Gregg, Short, West Davis and North streets, with funding shown as certificates of obligation.
City engineer Larry Turner of Kaluza, Inc. told the council the figure includes engineering and construction estimates for an asphalt overlay on the listed streets. Council members raised concerns that some drives may be private, and that the city must avoid spending public money on private property without securing a legal interest.
"Without a property interest in the street, even though we need to maintain the actual lines, we don't have a property interest," said the city attorney, urging that the city "work with the residents and try to perfect that" through access or construction easements. The council adopted an alternate approach: proceed with the project but exclude any streets the city cannot obtain legal access to before paving.
Council made and seconded the motion to proceed with the street project with the caveat that staff pursue easements for any private streets; the motion passed by voice vote.
The council also directed staff to provide an overhead layout and map (included in the project packet) showing the precise streets and limits to be resurfaced. City staff said utility lines and existing infrastructure influenced the recommended scope and that any privately owned streets would be removed from the contract if easements could not be obtained.
