Richels said the city worked with Ulteig Engineers of Fargo to sketch a pedestrian plan for Breckenridge.
"They studied the existing sidewalk system to come up with a sidewalk master plan," Richels said. "They met with the committee. I believe they drove every street in town, inventoried all the sidewalks, where there weren't sidewalks and where they felt there should be sidewalks."
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Through Ulteig, the city has a master plan drawn up, but is struggling to get funding to complete the plan. Each block is estimated to cost $14,000. Once the sidewalks are finished it is the responsibility of the landowner to maintain them, Richels said.
In 2007, the active living committee submitted an application for a Safe Routes to Schools grant, but it was not accepted. They applied again in 2008 and were ranked No. 3, but did not get funded, Richels said.
Even without the grant, he said there is a plan to add crossing signals at vital intersections between the elementary-middle school and high school.
"We're planning to put sidewalks along Beede Avenue, between the middle and high schools," he said. "Flashing lights on 11th Street, either automatic or student activated."
He added it will be a $150,000 project.
From Minnesota Avenue to the Otter Tail River bridge along 11th Street is another area of concern. The sidewalks along this street are in poor condition and in some stretches there aren't any sidewalks. There are some driveway approaches that need to be replaced and wheelchair ramps need to be installed at intersections, Richels said.
"We're going to have a community meeting to discuss what we intend to do and when," Richels said. "I think it may not go real smoothly. Some have never had sidewalks and may not be comfortable (with maintaining them)."
However, the state is pushing officials to get that project finished, he added. Sidewalks will be put on both sides of the road. Funding from the Municipal State Aid Fund will help pay for the project. Richels said he hopes it will be done by August in time for school to start.
Also at the meeting Monday were officials from the Statewide Health Improvement Plan program. They coordinated a question session regarding demographics and healthy communities, which enabled attendees to give answers using "clickers."
Look for the final results from the session in a later edition of the Daily News.
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