Kahoka Sidewalk Bash Draws Big Crowd
Kahoka Sidewalk Bash Draws Big Crowd
By Mike Scott
The ceremonial kickoff of Kahoka’s downtown improvement
project drew a crowd of more than 100 spectators on Friday afternoon, February
17.
Billed as the “Sidewalk Bash”, local dignitaries donned
hardhats and pounded the sidewalks with golden sledgehammers, while Black Hawk
fourth and fifth graders blew noisemakers and released ballons to the cacophony
of noise.
“This is a partnership between the City of Kahoka and
MoDOT,” said MoDOT District Engineer Amy Crawford, welcoming the crowd to the
event.
“This square is a vibrant business community,” said Kahoka
Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Webber. “We owe
this project to those local businesses that keep it that way.”
The project will replace the sidewalks and curbs on the east
and west sides of Kahoka’s square, extending around the corners at each
end. Ramps will be added in the middle
of the block on each side of the square, and the curbs will be rebuilt to have
one step between the road surface and the sidewalk, much like the north and
south sides of the square currently have. The sidewalk itself will have a
slight grade away from the buildings to allow for water drainage.
The construction contract specifies completion within 120
construction days.
Of total dollar figure, $127,269 is federal highway money.
The balance will be cash and in-kind contribution by the city. As part of its
in-kind responsibility, the city will remove the lights and handle the disposal
of the sidewalk demolition remains.
“I support the project,” said American Family Insurance
Agent Kim Daniel. Daniel’s office will
be among the first businesses affected by construction on the east side of the
square.
“We have actually seen people fall trying to get up the
sidewalk.,” she said.
Steve Howell, owner of Steve’s Family Diner, agrees.
“We chose to start and epand our business here on the
square. The city and contractor have
promised to do everything they can to keep access to our buildings during the
project. We know it might be tough for
some of our customers, but we hope they keep coming.”
This project is the first of several sidewalk projects
coming to Kahoka during the next couple years
.
Valerie Brown from the Clark County Health Department and Clark County Wellness Coalition has worked on
writing two grants to improve the community.
“This is the beginning of several projects that will make a
big difference in our community,” Brown said.
The Safe Routes To Schools grant, in the amount of $242,000,
will help build and improve sidewalks near the schools in Kahoka.
A second grant, totalling $265,000, from the Missouri
Foundation for Health will provide up top $180,000 for sidewalks. The balance will go to other health
impacting projects and education programs in the community.
