Burlington Spotlight
March 2005

 

Last month this newsletter discussed the possibility that the City's downtown streets may be able to handle two-way traffic provided that most of the semi-truck traffic could be rerouted away from the narrow downtown streets.

To encourage residents, business owners and property owners to participate in the decision-making, and to offer suggestions on how to improve the City's draft plans, Mayor Lois hosted two focus group meetings earlier this year. When the focus group participants were asked whether or not the City should proceed with plans to reintroduce two-way traffic most of the participants were supportive, although they were divided regarding how to accomplish this goal.

Concerns about a successful return to two-way streets that were expressed at these focus group meetings included:

• that loading and unloading areas would need to be established,

• that delivery trucks would need to use designated parking spaces (possibly on the side streets) or they would end up blocking Pine Street,

• that enforcement of parking regulations would be necessary when the changes are made to help educate drivers, and

• that parking spaces might be lost downtown to make the new plan work.

Following the second focus group meeting Mayor Lois thanked the participants and reassured them that no decision regarding the two-way conversion has yet been made. The 2005 Street Improvement Program will proceed, including the reconstruction of Commerce Street and the intersection redesign of Milwaukee Avenue, Congress Street, and Bridge Street. While this work is underway the concerns of the focus group participants will be examined to see how they might be resolved and to determine which downtown streets can be returned to two-way traffic so that an application can be submitted to the Wisconsin DOT for their approval.

Stay tuned to the city website and this newsletter for accurate updates on the project as well as any planned future update and/or focus group meetings.

 

We Energies is planning repair and some replacement of the underground electric line that runs from the Air Liquide plant, easterly (South of Market St.) to the We Energies substation that lies off the South end of Calumet St.

Preparation work for this project will begin in February. The actual line work and outage for Air Liquide is planned for March 21-25, 2005, weather pending. Approximately 15 crews, or about 60 employees, will be working on the project site to complete the work as quickly as possible.

We Energies will be working mainly in their easements; however, there will be street crossing work at the intersection of Market St./McHenry St.-CTH P, and at Market St./S. Kane St. Two junction boxes will be added at the intersection of Market St. and S. Kane St. We Energies crews following the line work will perform full restoration.

We Energies has already informed affected property owners by letter. The only electric outage will be to the Air Liquide plant itself. Any cooperation you can give these crews, during this time period, will be appreciated.

With spring just around the corner many City residents will be cleaning both their homes and their yards. To assist in this year's "spring cleaning" the City provides the following services to its residents:

Garbage / Recyclables And Old Furniture / Appliances Pickup

While the city contracts with Onyx Services for our regular residential garbage and recycling disposal. Onyx will pick-up large items such as old furniture and appliances at no charge however, pick-up of all large items must be called in to Onyx at 1-800-232-0860 and have a pick up date arranged prior to the item being placed at the curb.

Compost Site

The city does not provide pick-up service for landscape waste, but there is a compost site available to the city's taxpayers. The compost site on Maryland Avenue remains open during the winter months and residents may dispose of holiday evergreen decorations, brush and/or branches by bringing these items to the compost site. There are also containers for used oil and antifreeze at this site for the public to use.

Brush / Leaf Pick Up

As yards in the area are being cleaned this spring please keep in mind that brush pick-up is on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Residents must call and have their address placed on the brush pick-up list in order for their brush to be picked-up. Residents are also encouraged to bring their own brush to be disposed of to the compost site located on Maryland Avenue; this site is open daily for residents' convenience. Any residents that have leaves to be picked-up must take them to the Maryland Avenue compost site, as the City does not pick-up leaves in the spring or summer months. Any questions regarding brush / leaf pick up or the compost site can be directed to the Department of Public Works at 763-2060.

Adult Book Discussion

The Burlington Public Library Adult Book Discussion group will discuss THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom on March 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Eddie is a grizzled war veteran who feels trapped in a meaningless life of fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. His days are a dull routine of work, loneliness, and regret. Then, on his 83rd birthday, Eddie dies in a tragic accident, trying to save a little girl from a falling cart. With his final breath, he feels two small hands in his-and then nothing. He awakens in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a lush Garden of Eden, but a place where your earthly life is explained to you by five people who were in it. These people may have been loved ones or distant strangers. One by one, Eddie's five people illuminate the unseen connections of his earthly life. Was his last act a heroic success or a devastating failure? The answer is as inspirational as a glimpse of heaven itself.