City backs volunteer effort to restore Escanaba street markers
John Stacey, left, and Monte Morrison asked the Escanaba City Council for their official support as they work to restore and repaint Escanaba's street markers. (Courtesy photo)
Monte Morrison of Escanaba has a newly-fabricated street marker that will be placed on First Avenue North, where it might help guide cruise ship passengers. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
John Stacey, left, and Monte Morrison asked the Escanaba City Council for their official support as they work to restore and repaint Escanaba's street markers. (Courtesy photo)
Monte Morrison of Escanaba has a newly-fabricated street marker that will be placed on First Avenue North, where it might help guide cruise ship passengers. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Trending
ESCANABA -- A group of local volunteers received official city approval of their efforts to restore and repaint Escanaba’s street markers.
Last summer, Monte Morrison and the late Kevin Chown began restoring the street markers that remained from the original 660 placed in town as part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project in 1938. The project has drawn significant public interest, with many community members praising the group’s efforts.
During the Escanaba City Council's meeting Thursday, representatives of the volunteer group requested the city's support and cooperation as the group pursues an agreement with the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (DSISD) for potential assistance with labor.
Morrison and John Stacey presented a draft proposal to the council, detailing a proposed pilot project. The volunteers did not request city funding or financial assistance.
The proposed pilot project would involve restoring approximately 10 street posts along First Avenue North, spanning from Fourth Street to Tenth Street. The idea reportedly originated with Chown, who wanted to improve the avenue’s appearance as cruise ships arrive in Escanaba.
The project would also give volunteers an opportunity to begin training others and work through any challenges before expanding the effort.
“Doing a pilot project allows us to get started. It allows us to start training some people on how to do this and work some of the bumps out,” Stacey told the council.
According to the group’s presentation, the proposed post design would be similar to the original markers, with the ability to withstand snow and slush pushed against them during plowing.
However, they are not intended to withstand a direct strike from a plow or grader blade, but rather too allow the post to fail before causing significant damage to equipment or vehicles that might strike it.
The proposed structure would consist of a two-part concrete pour, where the subgrade component is a concrete-filled Sonotube that extends below the frost line in the ground. A rebar cage is embedded in the top pour and extends through the bottom pour.
The volunteers also emphasized they would be responsible for contacting MISS DIG 811 to identify underground utilities before any digging begins throughout the project.
In addition to the structural design, the group discussed potential color choices for the restored posts, noting that some residents have expressed preferences for different color combinations at various locations.
Stacey added, “The theme that Monty and Kevin had started out with was white and orange, but there are people that feel strongly about having maize and blue or something like that. We’re not going to argue with that."
The volunteers noted that while the draft proposal provides a framework for how the project could be implemented citywide, the means to expand their efforts do not yet exist.
“Funding and scholarship sources need to be developed, along with volunteer recruitment and training,” said Stacey.
Council Member Karen Moore praised the volunteers’ work.
“I want to commend you for starting this project,” Moore said. “It’s very well received. People are thrilled that you’re willing to do this and volunteering.”
Moore also complimented the group on the thoroughness of their presentation.
“It’s a slam dunk, and I believe that. You should be commended for what you’re doing and how you proceeded and what you did,” Moore added.
Stacey recalled how seeing Chown painting one of the existing street posts helped inspire the restoration effort.
“I happened to see Kevin sitting on a bucket one day painting it, and I went over to talk to him. An hour later, I was headed to my garage, thinking, ‘How can we build new ones?’ So, that was a great motivator,” the speaker said.
After hearing from Stacey, the City Council officially expressed its support for the volunteers and their proposed restoration effort.
------
Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.