Board approves Ridge Road payments and change orders as residents press for trail safety fixes

The Osceola Village Board approved pay application number 3 for the Ridge Road extension and a $4,550 change order after crews encountered a shallow sanitary sewer service that required relaying a line.

Project staff said the Ridge Road trail is largely complete and the final asphalt lift was scheduled; staff recommended approval of the contractor’s pay request. An engineer explained the change order resulted from an unexpected shallow service: "it was right in the way... it was assumed in the plans that sewer service sits closer to 8 feet," and crews had to "relay that sewer service so it did go underneath the proposed storm sewer." The board approved the pay application and the change order.

During public comment and staff Q&A, resident Lisa Curry told the board the new Ridge Road walking path is roughly "8 feet, 8.5 feet wide" and raised safety concerns about electric bikes, skateboards and delivery drivers being routed onto the path by mapping apps. She also said there is inadequate access for people using wheelchairs or strollers and requested the village seek an accessible connection.

Board members and staff discussed temporary mitigations. Staff said they were exploring options to reduce motor-vehicle incursions, including additional signage and a temporary barrier; one board member urged a short-term physical deterrent: "Even if it's temporarily, put a Jersey barrier there for a year." Officials also said they will pursue removal of the path from county mapping and contact providers where feasible. The board asked staff to follow up on ADA considerations for any connections to the trail.

The Ridge Road items were approved on motions recorded during the meeting; staff said minor punch-list restoration work remains before final acceptance.