Last Chance: Let Planners Know How Much Bugline Project Bugs You

Have something to say about the Bugline trail paving project? The last time to voice your opinion is coming up quick.

Jim Batzko, a trustee on the Sussex Village Board and member of the Waukesha County Board, said the recently scheduled public information meeting on August 29 will be the last time for residents to make comments before the budget is drawn up.

"This is the last meeting before budget time, so if you have comments, that is going to be the time to do it," said Batzko during Tuesday's Village Board meeting.

County officials say they’re ready to release new and updated designs for the Bugline Trail paving project at the meeting at the in Sussex.

Running from 5-7 p.m., the public gathering will be very similar to . Residents are welcome to come any time during the meeting to look at the new designs and ask county officials questions about the paving project.

Dave Burch, Waukesha’s Enterprise Operations Manager, says his team updated the trail’s design after the last public information meeting, and he’s looking forward to discussing the new details with residents.

“We’ll have updated designs and cross sections of the trail, specifically looking at some of the constrained areas and opportunities for multi-use,” Burch said. “This meeting will just kind of reemphasize our schedule, and we are on schedule. We’ll also have some new photos and boards for people to look at.”

“We’ve been hearing from a variety of people that this is a really beneficial project."

Burch said the meeting will be broken down so residents interested in things like the environmental or financial implications can hold a mini Q&A session with the person best qualified to answer their questions. County parks officials will also be there to answer questions on the .

“We’ve been hearing from a variety of people that this is a really beneficial project,” Burch said.

But some area residents are quick to disagree. Between the comments at the last public information meeting and on Patch, a large group of individuals are still strongly against the paving project.

For example, although a majority of the project is being funded by federal transportation grants, some are citing the country’s shifty economy as the reason to save, not spend.

“Someone has to be the voice of reason and say no,” wrote Patch commenter Nick Oliver. “Now, I personally don't have an issue with the bug line as it is, or as it's proposed (I don't use it enough to make a decent argument either way), but I do know that we don't have the funds to pay for projects like this today, and since we don't, it should be tabled until we do…”

However, while some may disagree with the project, Waukesha County officials say this project is a done deal.

“We’re pretty much set on the process of getting this done. We’re trying to work with people, but this is happening,” said Waukesha County Parks Manager Duane Grimm . “There are out there trying to make it stop, but we’re in the process to do this work.”

And a few voices are rallying with developers, rather than against them. During the meeting in May, a handful of locals said they supported the paving project to make it more accessible for bikers, rollerbladers and . Others voiced their support in the comments on Patch.

“I don't really see what the big deal is,” wrote Patch reader Angie. “I mean, we live in the burbs, not the boonies, of course it's like second nature to pave things. Hello, this is a metropolis!!!”

Residents interested in learning more about the revised Bugline Trail paving project should attend the public meeting on Aug. 29. If you’re unable to attend that meeting, send Waukesha County Senior Landscape Architect Steve Brunner an email with your comments.

Editor's Note: This article was updated with information from Tuesday night's Sussex Village Board meeting at 10:15 a.m. on Aug. 15.