Batavians may get say on bridge site

A citizen committee may evaluate potential Fox River bridge locations in Batavia to provide aldermen with the pros and cons of possible crossing sites.

The Batavia City Council community development committee Tuesday recommended appointing a 10-member citizen panel. The plan is expected to be approved by the full council next week.

In 2000, Batavia voters approved replacing the Wilson Street bridge, a project that is now under way. At the same time, voters rejected a ballot question for a second crossing connecting First and Webster streets, one block south of Wilson.

City Administrator Bill McGrath said that proposal failed because too many residents -- particular those on the near southeast side -- did not trust the city's method of selecting the site.

"We need a transparent process," he said, adding someone from that part of town should be named to the committee.

"The public needs to feel like they are part of this from this meeting forward," Second Ward Alderman Alan Wolff said.

Aldermen debated how large an area they should direct the panel to consider.

Wolff said it is obvious constructing a bridge north of Wilson Street is not feasible, nor would it help improve traffic flow in the community.

But Fourth Ward Alderman James Volk said the committee needs to evaluate and eliminate potential sites in order to prevent the "yeah, buts" that doomed the First-to-Webster proposal.

Fifth Ward Alderman Forrest Nelson said the citizen committee's role should simply be to help the council make a decision.

"We're overanalyzing what we want the committee to do," Nelson said, proposing that the city appoint a group that will investigate crossing locations in and near the city, and make evaluations based on traffic, business, fiscal and community considerations.