RECREATION: GF sharpens Greenway ax

By Tu-Uyen Tran
Herald Staff Writer

1/15/02 - The city of Grand Forks is looking at a series of belt-tightening measures that could keep the cost of the Greenway down by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Engineering staff presented a list Monday to the city's senior leadership group.

The group also discussed the need to make a decision very soon on a downtown pedestrian bridge.

Reduction

Proposed cost-cutting measures focused mostly on landscaping, trails and lighting. Wet side benches and trash cans also would be eliminated.

That would result in cost savings of about $433,000 on Phase 2. About half of that is the city's and half is the federal government's. The same figures are not yet available for Phase 1, which is under construction.

Engineers say they would have to work with the contractor and will have a dollar amount in February.

They said it would be substantial, however.

City leaders expressed hope that non-profit groups and businesses would help out with the Greenway.

Groups could plant trees and businesses could adopt benches, they said.

There is also the possibility some of these items could be back in the project at some point in the future.

As one council member said, it's easier to tell contractors to add to a project than to cut back.

Bridge connection

The senior leadership group also emphasized the need to make a decision soon on the downtown pedestrian bridge.

In a nutshell, there is not enough money, particularly on the East Grand Forks side.

The bridge cost is to be split 50-50 between the cities.

Council president and group member Hal Gershman wondered if a downtown bridge is even needed since its future location would make it less convenient than the existing Sorley Bridge. He said he knows there are those who disagree and would like to put it to a vote.

If the bridge is not to be, the city will have to decide what to do with the $1 million in federal funds earmarked for it.

City officials have said it likely may be used for trails.

Also discussed

* City auditor John Schmisek said the higher cost of Phase 1 requires some additional dollars from the city. He said Grand Forks has enough money to fund construction until September so it will not have to issue bonds early.

* City engineer Al Grasser said the No. 1 issue right now is to get the English Coulee Diversion completed in time for the 2003 flood season. Work on the channel to the west must be close to completion, he said, before the all important closure and pump station can be built.

* Anvary House in South Grand Forks is too big and would be too expensive to move. The city is looking to buyout the owner but needs an appraisal first, which is somewhat difficult because the house is unusually large.

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