Community Update

MANSFIELD- Monday night the Town Council unanimously voted
in favor of the North Eagleville Road walkway citing safety issues and
cooperation of the property owners.

            The walkway
will extend from Hunting Lodge Rd. and Northwood Rd.

            The town
will purchase the required easements as part of the Town's local contribution
to the walkway.  The cost of the
easements totals $3,995 (plus closing costs), which would be charged against
the town's capital.

            “We need to
be aware of the hidden cost” Republican Council member David Fruedmann said.

UConn would agree to pay for the
construction itself as well as the nominal costs of construction inspection and
quality assurance testing.

The town would be responsible for
the cost of maintaining the walkway following the completion of construction.

Four homeowners properties would be
affected by the walkways, and all are in favor of the construction. 

In order for the easements to begin
the lenders of the property need to allow it.

Two houses, 194 and 204 have been
completed.  Houses 188 and 202 are still
being delayed.

“All the owners have agreed, it’s
the banks and the lenders that have been holding us up in construction”
Director of Public Works Lon Hultgren said.

            Town residents
showed support by personally addressing the Council for safety concerns they
shared.

            “This is a
safety issue, a quality of life issue, students often walk on the wrong side of
the road and residents use it frequently, having a walkway would be a significant
safety increase, we’ve been expecting this two summers ago” town resident Alison
Hilding said.