Washington Mayor Gary Manier says the conclusion of several major projects are on the way.
The Freedom Parkway extension project, planned for nearly two decades, is just a “few weeks” away from being traffic ready. The $6.6 million project connects McCluggage Road and North Cummings lane.
Manier describes it as a vital connection between Washington’s fringe subdivisions and its major businesses like Walmart and Menards. Beyond the connectivity, Manier also sees the new stretch of road as an opportunity for development.
“Whether it’s a business, commercial, retail, or even light industry,” he said. “So it’ll just open up an avenue to hopefully bring more businesses to the region.”
While Freedom Parkway presents opportunities for development, the other road construction project nearing completion is focused on safety. The redevelopment of the Nofsinger Road and Highway 24 intersection, originally announced in Oct. 2022, followed decades of accidents and deaths at the outskirts of Washington.
“It was just difficult to see when you pulled out,” Manier said. “And the sun sets and rises on that road, an east-west road like that. It makes it very difficult to, you know, you get that sun glare. That’s probably a lot of the reasons for why a lot of the accidents happen.”
Manier said the reworked crossing will be ready around Thanksgiving. While he doesn’t have a specific date, he also expects the long-running brewpub project in the city’s square to be finished by Thanksgiving or early December.
There’s not currently a city administrator overseeing these projects — former administrator Jim Snider officially left his position at the end of August. Manier, the acting city administrator according to city code, said staff has been capable of handling oversight.
“This has happened several times in my 24 years,” he said. “So I’m not saying I got used to it, but it was a little more difficult back when I was still at Caterpillar and traveling 100 days a year.”
Now, he said, fill-in duties mostly consist of signatures and spending authority.
While transformation is coming to Washington’s streets and staff, Manier also is anticipating transformation of the city council. In fact, he said the council won’t begin the process of searching for Snider’s replacement before the municipal elections in April 2025.
“If you look at it seven months from now, it’s going to turn over,” Manier said. “And if you’re a city administrator and you’re in that business, you’re probably not going to want to apply for a job and then, possibly, have a change and then have to be let go.”
Manier acknowledged there may be some changes when the smoke clears after the April elections. The city council has seen several split votes over the last few weeks on issues like the city administrator’s resignation, the contract for repainting a water tower and the construction of a new evidence building for the police.
Manier said it’s not unusual for council members to take firmer stances during election season.
“It’s not just our city. You see it in every city,” he said. “People become more vocal during council meetings and opposition becomes more, you know, taking positions on things to try to position themself to be either elected or re-elected.”
