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Right to push forward on project Last Updated: February 19, 2015 The Meridian and Ford Street reconstruction project nearly took a step back this week when Valley Center officials opened bids and found the project would cost about $1 million more than anticipated. It was a real "Yikes" kind of moment. But we applaud city leaders for not throwing up their hands and giving up. We encourage them to continue sharpening their pencils to make sure the finances work to make this project a reality. The project includes the creation of a detention pond south of Ford (77th) and reconstruction of Ramsey and Meridian, from Main Street south to the Leeker's parking lot. It would literally change the very landscape of Valley Center. Too much pre-planning has already gone into this project to give up on it now. Plus, the work itself — essentially fixing the downtown drainage problem in Valley Center once and for all — is too important to the future of this city. If Valley Center expects to grow any more than it already has, stormwater drainage needs to be removed as an obstacle. Keep it going. We were happy to report two weeks ago the results of a group of people not giving up on another important infrastructure project. For several years, county, school district and city folks have been discussing ways to improve 93rd North, which is a dirt road. The county said it would begin reconstruction of a bridge on 93rd this month, which would clear the way for the road to be paved from Meridian all the way to Broadway. Of course, more details — especially about funding for the city of Valley Center's portion of 93rd — need to be worked out. However, the project is moving forward. There are more than a few people to thank for pushing it in the right direction. First, a group of parents and students at Valley Center High School continued to voice their concerns about the safety of the road. Second, Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau never turned a deaf ear to the concerns. Instead, he was diligent about making it a priority. Third, school officials were patient yet firm about the need. In a couple of years, everyone will hopefully see the rewards for their vigilance. — The Ark Valley News |
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