QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT POURING SIDEWALKS IN COLD TEMPERATURES; PCUL GRANT REQUEST

[My Northern Wisconsin]

   

The Committee of the Whole, in Phillips, met on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.  One item on the agenda was the sidewalks project.

During public comment, Davette Hrabak presented a document she found online from Ayres Associates, the engineering firm hired by the City of Phillips, that stated concrete under 12" thick needs to be at 55 degrees for 24 hours a day for six or seven days to cure properly.  She said that if the council does not think the temperatures are conducive to pouring concrete, that she feels the project should be delayed until conditions are favorable so that the concrete cures properly and lasts a long time.  She said that she has seen some work vehicles drive on the sidewalks in the past, and, if this practice continues, it could cause damage to new sidewalks if they are not cured properly.  Ayres Associates' document stated that, if concrete is poured in cold weather, procedures need to be taken such as using protection methods like enclosures, insulated formwork and blankets, hydronic heaters, and combustion heaters.  Davette asked if there would be a guarantee that the sidewalks will cure properly.  Mayor Charles "Chuck" Peterson and Attorney Bryce Schoenborn said there will be a bond for the work.  Davette asked if the bond is short-term or for the expected average life of the concrete, and the answer was that the concrete will get approved by Ayres Associates, and if anything is needed to be corrected immediately after work is done and within a year, the company will have to correct it.  The mayor said, "That bond is always part of any of the stuff that we do.  I always make sure the contractors sign something like that, and we still would end up having the right to tell them 'No, don't do it, we don't think it's the right time, so we don't think you should.'"  The committee thanked Davette for presenting the information.

In related news, Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig with PCUL was present, requesting that the DOT TAP Grant be applied for in regard to trails and a switchback which would allow for handicap access by the stairs that lead from Hwy. 13 to Elk Lake Park.  The bike trails would be located behind some businesses on Lake Avenue from Bostrom Park and extend all the way out to the fairgrounds.

City Clerk Shelby Kosmer stated the estimated cost is $130,000 for the switchback, but other costs would need to be calculated.

Lyn stated that PCUL will not apply for the DOT TAP Grant unless the city backs them, because a municipality applying for it will score much higher than an organization.  PCUL tried to get a grant twice in recent years for the sidewalks, but the city did not back that grant, and Lyn feels the competitive grant could be received if the city is involved.

Encouraging the committee to pursue this idea, Lyn said to an audience member, "Ken, what did your mom say?"  He replied, "About what?"  She said, "When you walked to the fairgrounds?"  Lyn continued stating that Ken had said that when he was eight years old his mom was very scared when he was walking to the fairgrounds, and she felt that was one reason a trail system was needed.  Ken stated his mom did not say she was scared when he walked to the fairgrounds, because he did not walk to the fairgrounds, but he walked to the beach.  He stated that she was concerned because he was a little kid at the time.

Chuck said the switchback area near the steps would be in the railroad and highway rights-of-way, which would need permits as there is not enough room near the steps without infringing on property that is not owned by the city.

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Lynne Bohn added her thoughts, stating, "This was the grant that Kathy Billek and I had found and researched and talked with the DOT rep, Evan Maves, and he thought we could potentially get this grant for the sidewalks.  Couldn't this [trail system] be combined with the sidewalks?"  The mayor interjected, "It would be a separate project.  The sidewalk would be a separate project.  The swayback [switchback] would be a separate project.  The walkway going down, them are all separate ones, so we could go back and look at it, but the sidewalks, as of right now, have already been approved to go and do, so the sidewalks are completely out as far as that goes."  Lynne explained that when it was brought up at a prior meeting that a bike trail could be added so the city could score higher on the grant, the council did not want to do it because it is a competitive grant and it may not get awarded to the city, so the council didn't want to pay the extra cost of something that might not get awarded, even though that is how grants are structured.  She added that the DOT rep, Evan Maves, seemed to say a bike trail and sidewalks could pair together nicely on this grant.  The mayor asked Lynne Bohn if the bike trail would go on the main street.  Lyn Ludwig responded to the mayor stating there is a lot of strategy that goes into the grant.  She said that when PCUL applied in two recent years, the city did not want to submit that grant, and they would have scored high on it if they had.  She explained that grant would have covered the sidewalks and the bike trails because the DOT understands that we want to keep the historic quality of our downtown but yet also have a bike path, so the grant could include all projects mentioned, including the sidewalks.  Lyn Ludwig stated it might be smart to hold off on the sidewalks until next year so the DOT TAP Grant could potentially cover the costs of the sidewalks, the switchback, and trail system all as one.

Chuck said, "This board has already made the decision to put the sidewalks in already for this year.  That decision's already been made."  He stated he will only talk about the switchback for the DOT TAP grant, and he concluded the discussion asking Justin, from Ayres Associates, to look into it.

In a follow-up interview, Lynne Bohn shared that over twenty business owners and counting have stated they would gladly wait until next spring, before the busy season, to get the sidewalks completed when the weather is much more favorable and in hopes of getting a grant to cover the full costs.  She said, "A number of business owners have directly told me that the city promised the business owners that a grant would be applied for and that they should, therefore, apply for a grant for the sidewalks.  Those business owners feel delaying until spring will not only save them money but will also save the city money, at a time where every dollar counts for our city, if the DOT would award the grant, and there seems to be a high likelihood that a combined project of sidewalks and a trail system would be awarded and enhance our community with a cost savings to everyone.  Since the mayor told Davette that the project could be postponed if the council felt the weather was not conducive to the project, the project could be postponed for that reason and to try to get a grant.  Many business owners are concerned about the sidewalks properly curing during mid-September through October given the temperatures will likely be colder than recommended.  My main concern is the sidewalks curing properly, but I have presented the combined thoughts of all the business owners that have talked with me, which also includes those who really want a grant," Lynne Bohn said.

At the meeting, Ayres Associates submitted a corrected contract for the sidewalks showing their cost has increased by $7,450 for "preliminary and final design and DOT coordination" citing "Ayres attended additional meetings with the city and had additional coordination with the DOT beyond what was reasonably expected.  The DOT coordination resulted in redesign efforts during final design phase due to the compressed schedule of the project."  The cost adjustment was approved.

Three bids came in at $385,391.03, $576,447, and $848,599.  The council approved the bid for $385,391.03 with a company from Eau Claire.

Alderman Bill Elliott asked how long the sidewalks will be torn up, and Justin thought the project will take about a month.  One side of the street will be torn up and completed and then the other side will be torn up and completed.  Justin stated it will take 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before any work would start, so work will not start until mid-September at the earliest and will not finish until mid-October at the earliest.  The city is still working to get temporary easements signed by all the business owners that need to sign one.

At the meeting in August, it was revealed that the business owners voted and shadow slate won for the color, and brick won for the pattern of the sloped terrace.  The council could select between cobblestone, which is a rounded, irregular stone pattern or ashlar, which is a rectangular stone pattern.  The council voted for the ashlar pattern.

The Common Council will meet on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, and information regarding the sidewalks project will likely be on the agenda.


The Phillips Public Library, located at 286 Cherry Street in Phillips, has lots of activities and events planned for this month.  Visit the library's website for more information.

Sounds like a lot of entities are talking, but not to each other in a combined effort.

Ms Ludwig still pushes for her trails while citizens and business owners want their sidewalks repaired/replaced.  The latter are essential.  The trails are not.  

As for the timing of the sidewalk work Mother Nature is definitely making the project difficult with constant weather fluctuations.  

At this late point in the construction season I believe it would be best to wait until next year even though the City already gave the project the go ahead.  In addition, forcing completion of the project when there is no guarantee there will be adequate curing is wasteful.  Sure, Ayers will be responsible for any repairs for a year, but who will be in years after?