Council adopts preliminary resolution to assess curb, gutter and paving for Anthony Avenue; vote 6-1

The Janesville City Council on April 13 adopted a preliminary resolution (file 2026-2407) to begin converting the one-block segment of Anthony Avenue from gravel to an urban standard and to start the special-assessment process for curb, gutter and paving, passing the measure 6–1.

Public Works Director Mike Payne told the council that Anthony Avenue is a roughly 500-foot gravel through street with water and sanitary lines installed in 1976 but without street improvements, and that four property owners representing six parcels would be assessed if the council moves the project forward. Payne said the proposed approach follows council policies 63 and 95 and noted the city has used special assessments on 13 projects over the last decade that totaled more than $4.175 million in levied assessments; about $650,000 remains on active five‑year payment plans, he said.

Payne said the city would pay for storm-sewer work and street lighting and that the special assessments would cover curb, gutter and paving. He described the timeline should the council approve the preliminary resolution: finish design, bid the work, notify and hold a public hearing for affected property owners, then return to the council with a final resolution that lists individual assessment amounts and, if approved, proceed to contract the construction. "If the council chooses to approve the preliminary resolution this evening, this is really the beginning of the process to convert Anthony Avenue to an urbanized street," Payne said.

One council member questioned whether it is fair to ask long‑time residents to shoulder assessment costs for an issue that has existed for decades. The council member said some property owners could face assessment bills "almost $10,000" and urged the council to consider alternatives such as attaching a fee upon sale or improvement rather than immediate billing at construction. Payne responded that the council could consider options outside standard policy but that prior projects used similar assessments and that payment plans and a financial-hardship provision administered by the treasurer’s office are available.

Pay rates and earlier bid figures were discussed as examples: Payne said a 2019 post-design bid for comparable work returned $97,140, with distribution for curb, gutter and paving shown in staff materials, but warned final costs require a current design and bid. The council asked about gravel driveways and whether property owners would have to pave private drive aprons; Payne said driveway-surface timing and apron requirements can be managed as a policy question and noted sidewalks are not required for this corridor.

After discussion, Council member Williams moved adoption of the preliminary resolution, the motion was seconded, and the council voted to adopt it (passes 6–1, with one dissenting vote). The approval authorizes staff to proceed with design and bidding and schedules the required public hearing and final-resolution steps once costs are known.

What happens next: staff will complete design and solicit bids, return to the council with a chart showing each affected parcel’s proposed assessment, hold the statutorily required public hearing, and then the council will consider a final resolution that would set formal assessments and, if adopted, authorize construction contracting.