Plans to Drastically Widen Main Street Shut Down

First the Village Board killed the idea of roundabouts, and now the idea of widening the street to create a center turn lane meets the same fate.

Main Street is on the fast track to a reconstruction project that changes very little. The Sussex Village Board agreed Tuesday evening to no longer consider drastically widening Main Street in order to create a center turning lane for drivers. The idea to do so would have caused the village to purchase 5 to 10 feet of property on both sides of the existing road. After discussing the various options, members on the board agreed that the less they can disturb residents and businesses on Main Street, the better. “I’m in total agreement with many things, but widening the road isn’t one of them,” Village President Greg Goetz said. “The right businesses are going to come to Main Street eventually, and the ones that need a little more room on the…

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POLL: What Major Sussex Project are You Most Interested In?

Sussex is up for some major changes: the Bugline, Main Street, Village Hall, Cannery and Village Park are getting complete makeovers. What matters most to you?

Sussex is on the fast track to a complete makeover with major aspects of the village slated for changes in the upcoming years. However, Patch wants to know what big improvement project matters the most to you. Check out the articles outlining the latest news on each construction project, and then vote in our Patch Poll.  In the comments, tell us about your vote. Are you for or against the project, and why are you so passionate? All of these ongoing stories are on the top of Sussex Patch's list of priorities when providing coverage, so your vote could influence future stories.

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Sussex Makes New Push for More Businesses on Main Street

The Sussex Village Board hires an economic development consulting firm to identify new businesses and draw them to the downtown area.

With the Main Street reconstruction project in full swing, the Sussex Village Board is making an even greater push to bring new businesses to the downtown area by hiring Piqued Interest Consulting. The board members approved the year-long contract with the economic development company on May 22, a move that will cost the village approximately $11,000. However, Village Administrator Jeremy Smith says even though the company has been successful in the past, the board decided to ease into the agreement. “They approached us about a partnership, and based on their track record, staff thought it had some merit to consider regarding the vacant spots on Main Street,” Smith said. “It’s not a huge amount of money, but part of that is because we …

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Hoping for a Bridge Over Railroad Tracks? Don't Hold Your Breath

Sussex Village Administrator Jeremy Smith says putting a bridge over the railroad near Quad/Graphics to alleviate traffic problems isn’t going to happen, and the cost of doing it in general is astronomical.

When Village Board members announced they’re no longer considering roundabouts, a new issue on Main Street presented itself: a bridge over the railroad tracks. With 35 trains passing through Sussex every day, especially around the time when school begins or ends, backups and delays have become a part of every resident’s life. Sussex resident Mike Carlson started the conversation about the need for an overpass during the May 15 Main Street workshop. With the construction project limited between Locust Street and Waukesha Avenue, Carlson wondered why village officials didn’t address the train problem while the project is being negotiated. “I’ve lived here for 31 years,” he said. “I want to know why this board will redo this Main Street. When…

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Main Street Roundabouts Officially Dead

Every Village Board member came out against the idea of roundabouts on Main Street during Tuesday night’s workshop, a vote that had the close to 100 attendees applauding.

“It’s off the table,” concluded Village President Greg Goetz. “It’s off.” Goetz is referring to roundabouts, and after every Sussex Village Board member expressed a disinterest in them on Tuesday, the village president ordered architects to kill the idea of roundabouts for Main Street. The group of officials met on Tuesday evening for the first-ever Main Street construction workshop, held for convenience reasons at the Public Safety Building. And good thing it was; close to 100 concerned residents packed the room and lined the walls waiting for their turn to speak to the board. However, rather than an endless stream of comments opposing roundabouts, the Village Board was met with something else: applause. Goetz summed up comments from …

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Cthlulu

9:33 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012

I've noticed that in this state most drivers don't stop for the pedestrians even at crosswalks (despite being required to by law), and if you stop, the driver behind you will honk and probably make an expressive gesture.   more ›

Reminder: First Main Street Reconstruction Workshop on Tuesday

The highly controversial Main Street reconstruction project will be discussed for the first time by Village Board members Tuesday evening, and the meeting is open to the public.

Business Owners Getting Serious About Killing Roundabouts

A family owned business in the heart of downtown is telling Sussex residents to "Tell Village No to Roundabouts," and with their property on the line, the owners are getting nervous.

The new message to Sussex residents: “Tell Village No to Roundabouts.” It’s plastered on a huge sign in the heart of downtown Sussex. With the first official meeting among Village Board members to discuss the Main Street construction project scheduled for Tuesday, Toots and P.J. Cain are doing everything they can to get residents to show up and oppose roundabouts. The Cains are the owners of Paul’s Service, a second-generation, family owned auto body shop on the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue. If the village chooses to construct a roundabout on that corner, Paul’s Service could be in line for some real changes. “We’ll be affected big time because they’re talking about taking in the edge of the road between 8 and 15 feet to …

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First Main Street Workshop Set to Hash Out Construction Details

The Village Board will meet for the first time to talk over details of the Main Street reconstruction project. The May 15 workshop is open to the public, so any interested residents are welcome to attend.

After gathering comments at the latest public forum, and after Village President Greg Goetz tried to clear up some "confusion," Sussex has set a date for its first workshop meeting on the Main Street reconstruction project. The Village Board will meet at 6 p.m. May 15 at the Public Safety Building on Main Street. The meeting won't take place at Village Hall because officials are anticipating a large crowd.  The purpose of the meeting is for the board members to begin to look over the comments gathered at the multiple public forums and begin to talk about the various options. Consultants from the design team will be on hand to answer any questions from the board.  "This will be the first time the Village Board will have walked through the …

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Village President Talks Main Street: 'There Seems to Be Confusion'

After last week's public forum, Village President Greg Goetz addresses the Main Street reconstruction project, explaining why the project must be done, and how public input has just begun.

The latest comments have been tallied after last week's public forum concerning roundabouts on Main Street, but Sussex Village President Greg Goetz thinks some residents may be confused. Goetz read a prepared statement during Tuesday night’s Village Board meeting addressing some of the comments from the forum, and in his own words explained why this project needs to be completed. In addition, Goetz said the time for public input has just begun. “The Village of Sussex has received a lot of feedback over the past several weeks about the Main Street project, and I am glad we have heard so many thoughts and comments,” Goetz said. “This conversation has illustrated the broad and varied passion for ideas that exists in the community, but at the …

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