DeKalb City Council discussed plans for a $10 million construction project, downtown maintenance issues and management benefits at the workshop Monday night.

Plans for the Annie Glidden Road reconstruction were presented by Joel Maurer, assistant city engineer, and engineering representatives from Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, the firm contracted by DeKalb to do preliminary designing of the project.

The project includes a three-lane widening, a one-foot raising and an eastern shifting of Annie Glidden Road.

Between Taylor Street and the railroad tracks south of Lincoln Highway, construction would primarily take place on the east side of the road, where the city owns land.

Maurer said he hopes 80 percent of the funding will come from federal funds. No work will begin until the project is funded.

A meeting for those in the neighborhood who would be affected by the construction will be held November 6 at the River Heights Golf Course clubhouse at 7 p.m.

Maurer said a public hearing may take place in January, and final designs may be approved in February. March 2005 is the target date for bidding a contract.

The council also discussed maintenance in the downtown area.

Maintenance used to be contracted out, but now the city is responsible for cleaning up the area.

“I can tell you from my perspective, I’ve never seen it as bad as it is,” Mayor Greg Sparrow said, pointing out this was not an indictment on city employees, and the manpower for the city to sufficiently keep the streets clean just does not exist .

Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker said as a business owner, fellow owners should not only pick up the garbage in front of their own stores, but also the garbage in front of other stores that originated from their store.

The council suggested checking into the services of Allyn Davenport, a contractor previously responsible for cleaning downtown. Sparrow said Davenport was more familiar than anyone with the downtown area.

The council also looked into management benefits.

City Manager Jim Connors introduced a list of items in which management is looking for parity with unionized workers.

Connors said management knew complete equality on all issues was not feasible, but more parity was.

Some of the things included in the package were sick days, vacation time and the time new employees have to move to the area.