By Allison Roorda
Community Post
MINSTER – During their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Village of Minster Council discussed the end result of the Fourth Street Improvement Project and the possibilities opened by federal grant funding. 

“Garmann/Miller and Choice One Engineering have been developing a conceptual plan with what we could end up with in 2011,” said Village Administrator Don Harrod.
Kathy Trejo of Garmann/Miller presented a concept of the finished Fourth Street project that included a brick-lined sidewalk with trees and street lamps lining the street.
“We tried to create something that’s a little slice of storytelling of Minster,” said Trejo. “Very pedestrian friendly.”
In addition to the aesthetic dimension of the Fourth Street improvements, plans will incorporate the history of Minster.
“We have an idea for a treasure hunt,” Trejo explained. “We’d like to have small bronze art pieces scattered down the street. These pieces wouldn’t necessarily have a plaque or explanation by them, but they’d all have stories behind them. For example, the Wooden Shoe Inn might have a pair of wooden shoes in front of it.”
Trejo suggested pamphlets be provided at various locations, such as F.J. Stallo Library and the Minster Historical Society Museum, for a self-guided tour of the art pieces on Fourth Street. In addition to these pieces, other tributes to Minster’s history would be visible along Fourth Street.
“Minster is the birthplace of an impressionist painter,” said Trejo. “Some say the first American impressionist painter, John Joseph Enneking.”
Trejo’s concept of Fourth Street included several of Enneking’s paintings displayed as a mural on the side of Wagner’s IGA.
“If we move forward with this, we’ll have to have some conversations with the people along Fourth Street,” said Harrod.
The change in scenery won’t be the only enhancement to Fourth Street. There are also plans to include new turn lanes at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets.
“I think the turn lanes there are something that’s well overdue,” said Councilmember Steve Kitzmiller. “But I think we need to get the public in here so they can see what’s going on.”
Harrod spoke briefly on the projected cost for the project, which is partially covered by the Transportation Enhancement Grant. While the total estimate for the Fourth Street project is $3.6 million, the village will also receive $1.6 million toward the project.
“We can spend less than what we would have normally done and do a lot more,” stated Harrod.
Council members scheduled a public meeting to discuss the Fourth Street Improvement project at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, before the regular village council meeting.