Published: March 03, 2009 12:19 pm            

Streetscaping plans for downtown area completed

Monticello — Monticello Mayor Kenneth Catron likes the tentative plans for the

streetscaping project proposed in the downtown area. The most recent

drawings from Carmen and Associates take care of two main concerns for city

officials‹they keep the Doughboy where it is currently located and they do

not take away parking spaces in the square area.

The plans have to be approved by Monticello City Council before the

project can officially begin. He said the project could be ready for bid by

May.

The streetscaping project will relocate all utility lines underground,

similar to projects that have been done in neighboring counties like Clinton

County. Catron noted this will differ from the Albany project, where all

electric is underground, but there are plugs in areas built up on sidewalks.

He said in the local project, all plug-in areas will be under the sidewalks,

and covered with a lid.

The streetscaping project includes several other improvements to the

downtown area, including the construction of a brick walkway beside the

parking places that adjoin the side of the street where the Wayne County

Courthouse and Jonathan Edwards Law Office are located. Catron noted that

the sidewalk on that side of Main Street is very high and it is difficult

for someone who parks there to make the step up to the sidewalk. The brick

walkway will allow those who utilize the parking to go to the corner and use

the stairs to access the sidewalk.

"This will make it more attractive and much more accessible," said

Catron.

He noted that there will be four flag poles in one area of the square,

which hasn't been determined yet. Each flag pole will display one flag‹the

U.S. flag, the Kentucky flag, the POW flag, and the city's flag.

Crosswalks in the downtown area will be more visible with a design that

will be done in blacktop. While the original plans called for replacing

light poles in the downtown area with more historical looking replicas,

Catron said those plans have changed to include a more contemporary design.

He noted that planners say that more towns are going with the contemporary

look.

There are also plans to locate sign posts in each corner of the square,

but a final design for those have not been determined, according to Catron.

"When we get this completed, it will all tie in together," said Catron.

        

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