The Hamlet Town Council is looking for its next road project to tackle.
Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts reminded members last week that the next call for projects for the state’s Community Crossings matching grant program is in January. Council President Dave Kesvormas voiced his support for upgrading Division Street from the Town Park north to Davis or Railroad.
He felt it would be a good chance to install sidewalks, which would then become part of a trail network proposed in the town’s comprehensive plan. “And then, later, when Stellar comes around, we’ve already done [it],” Kesvormas explained. “I think that might help our chances with Stellar a little bit, saying that we already have a contingency saying that we’ve got those walking paths that Dave had gotten us drawings of. They’re preliminary. They’re not anything nailed down.”
Kesvormas hoped that might entice local homeowners to get their sidewalks fixed with the town’s 50/50 sidewalk program. “Maybe we could have some kind of a connection, where Starke Street, down Pearl, down Division and maybe even further down and around to catch Indiana back to Starke,” he added.
Hamlet was able to extend the Starke Street sidewalk last year with help from Community Crossings, which town officials say has been a big safety upgrade for residents walking to the gas station. Upgrades were made to Railroad Street with this year’s Community Crossings grant.
