The Local Urban District committee for Grunthal has decided upon its capital projects for 2022. Chair Anita Funk says they have got a major project, one medium-sized project and then a smaller one to tackle this year.

She notes the major project will see Froese Road rebuilt from Main Street to Spruce Street. Froese Road runs along the eastern edge of the LUD. It runs all the way up to Spruce Street, which happens to be the most northern street in that community. According to Funk, that section of Froese used to be paved, but year after year they had issues with it breaking up in spring and two years ago they decided to remove whatever asphalt was still remaining and turn it into a gravel road.

"Now we're going to spend the money and rebuild that road and repave it again," she says.

Funk says rebuilding that road will cost about $175,000.

The medium-sized project will see a concrete sidewalk constructed along that same portion of Froese Road. It will run on the west side of Froese at a cost of about $45,900.

The smaller project will see some sidewalk repairs completed along Main Street. Funk says repairs are needed in the area in front of the credit union where sidewalks are old and damaged. Those improvements are expected to cost about $10,800.

Funk says active transportation has been a priority for their committee.

"We've tried to get all the streets within town connected," she says. "And often have focused to get sidewalks so that the children can walk safely to school."

Funk notes even though the sidewalk along Froese might not be used by children walking to school, it is still important because people in that area will often use the road to go for walks.

"The walkers have definitely told us in the last number of years how much they appreciate the additional sidewalks we have put in place," she adds.

The LUD committee for Grunthal is hoping to complete these projects without raising the mill rate. Funk says the plan is to keep the mill rate at 4.75 mills, though she notes they will need to take some money out of reserves in order to make this happen.

Funk says she is hopeful that these projects can begin in May or June.