Town Line Road in Iola is expected to open before the end of the month.
Construction on the bridge is scheduled to begin next week.
This information was presented to the Iola Village Board at its Dec. 10 meeting.
According to McMullen & Pitz Construction Company, the crane will be at the site on Monday, Dec. 17, and the bridge will be delivered and set on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
In a written statement to the board, the village’s engineer Martenson & Eisele Inc. reported that the bridge will be backfilled and the gravel roadway will be constructed this year.
Village President Joel Edler said the road will be open to local traffic as soon as the graveling is finished.
Paving of Town Line Road from Depot Street to Mill Street will be not be done until the spring of 2013. Therefore, the contract completion date was moved from Nov. 30, 2012, to the spring of 2013.
The project included: Reconstruction of Town Road from State Street to State Highway 161, replacing the Town Line Road bridge over the South Branch of the Little Wolf River, reconstruction of Oak Street from State Street to Depot Street, reconstruction of the Oak and Depot Street intersection, milling and relaying asphalt along Depot Street from Oak Street to Main Street, and replacing sections of the sanitary sewer and water main in the area of the Oak and Depot street intersection.
The final cost to the village was $79,761.
River Walk project
In other business, the village board authorized a construction note for the River Walk project.
This allows this village to borrow up to $500,000, at 4.5 percent interest.
The short-term loan will be paid off long before it is due on Dec. 14, 2013, according to Bruce Meagher, village attorney.
It was noted that no tax dollars are being used to pay for the River Walk Project. It is being financed through fundraising and a matching grant.
“We don’t get the matching funds until (the project) is done,” Edler said.
The village does not expect to need the entire amount of the approved loan. The loan fee is $345.
Edler noted that fundraising is close to its goal, but donations are still needed.
Village caucus
The village caucus was set for 5:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, prior to the regular monthly meeting.
Board members up for re-election are Lee Johnson, Jim Rasmussen and Betty Finch. The village president is also up for re-election.
Chamber report
The Iola-Scandinavia Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for Person of the Year and Business of the Year. Tammie Jo Berg, chamber liaison to the village, reported that these awards will be presented on Jan. 26.
Berg also reported vandalism had occurred at the chamber’s information kiosk. There was damage to the brochure rack, poster cabinet and the counter.
Plans are underway for this summer’s Thursday Night on Main events. Berg said musicians have been booked and confirmed for four of the six dates.