Kahoka Sidewalk Bash Draws Big Crowd

By Mike Scott

The ceremonial kickoff of Kahoka’s downtown improvement project drew a crowd of more than 100 spectators on Friday afternoon, February 17.

Billed as the “Sidewalk Bash”, local dignitaries donned hardhats and pounded the sidewalks with golden sledgehammers, while Black Hawk fourth and fifth graders blew noisemakers and released ballons to the cacophony of noise.

“This is a partnership between the City of Kahoka and MoDOT,” said MoDOT District Engineer Amy Crawford, welcoming the crowd to the event.

“This square is a vibrant business community,” said Kahoka Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Webber. “We owe this project to those local businesses that keep it that way.”

The project will replace the sidewalks and curbs on the east and west sides of Kahoka’s square, extending around the corners at each end. Ramps will be added in the middle of the block on each side of the square, and the curbs will be rebuilt to have one step between the road surface and the sidewalk, much like the north and south sides of the square currently have. The sidewalk itself will have a slight grade away from the buildings to allow for water drainage.

The construction contract specifies completion within 120 construction days.

Of total dollar figure, $127,269 is federal highway money. The balance will be cash and in-kind contribution by the city. As part of its in-kind responsibility, the city will remove the lights and handle the disposal of the sidewalk demolition remains.

“I support the project,” said American Family Insurance Agent Kim Daniel. Daniel’s office will be among the first businesses affected by construction on the east side of the square.

“We have actually seen people fall trying to get up the sidewalk.,” she said.

Steve Howell, owner of Steve’s Family Diner, agrees.

“We chose to start and epand our business here on the square. The city and contractor have promised to do everything they can to keep access to our buildings during the project. We know it might be tough for some of our customers, but we hope they keep coming.”

This project is the first of several sidewalk projects coming to Kahoka during the next couple years

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Valerie Brown from the Clark County Health Department and Clark County Wellness Coalition has worked on writing two grants to improve the community.

“This is the beginning of several projects that will make a big difference in our community,” Brown said.

The Safe Routes To Schools grant, in the amount of $242,000, will help build and improve sidewalks near the schools in Kahoka.

A second grant, totalling $265,000, from the Missouri Foundation for Health will provide up top $180,000 for sidewalks. The balance will go to other health impacting projects and education programs in the community.