Downtown St. Cloud Street Beautification Project Voted Down

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council has voted down a sewer replacement and street beautification project.

The $2.9 million project would have redone West St. Germain Street from 10th Avenue to 12th Avenue with new underground utilities, stamped colored concrete, decorative lighting and bike lanes.

It needed six votes to pass and only received five after councilmembers George Hontos and Mike Conway gave it the thumbs down. After the meeting, Conway spoke with KNSI News and said he understands the idea of creating a walkable city, “however; this particular block and a half, I don’t see the need to put the extra beautification in at this point.”

Conway says the money that would have gone to the project would be better spent in other parts of the city. “I think we have other needs. I think with the current development that’s happening on the east side is in need. I think the focus needs to be on existing downtown and moving that towards the east side.”

The project would be around $200,000 less without the aesthetic upgrades. City staff says much of the expense will remain because of how much work needs to be done to the sewer lines in that area.

The public works department will bring another plan to the city council soon.

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