The Platteville Common Council Tuesday night approved Rule Construction of Dodgeville to build the Rountree Trail paving and lighting project.

Pending the council vote and approval from the state Department of Natural Resources, the Moving Platteville Outdoors Steering Committee hopes Rule will begin construction in mid-August or early September. The bid requires Rule to complete the trail by Aug. 15, 2016.

The MPO steering committee is looking to raise $165,000, or 9 percent of the $1.676 million cost, to complete funding for the project.

To date MPO has raised $1,51 million from 26 fundraising projects involving more than 1,500 residents and businesses.

With the main construction bid in, Delta 3 Engineering of Platteville and IIW of Dubuque and committee project estimate the total cost for trail improvements and expansion at $1,676,000. That includes paving, a new bridge, eliminating the stairs, lighting, adding donated native grasses and plants, kiosks and other items for the 2.75-mile trail from Chestnut Street to the Platteville-to-Belmont trail junction behind Menards. 

“Fundraising is now at the critical stage as the construction company needs to know the amount of materials (lights, light poles and other construction material) to order,” said MPO committee member Gene Weber. “All funding must be received or pledged by Aug. 15.

“Our MPO Committee has been told that some residents and businesses have been waiting until the starting point to make their contribution. About $30,000 has been contributed” since July 12.

“We need to make this final push … we are so close to reaching our goals.”

Payment terms can be arranged with local businesses or major donors, Weber said.

To make a donation, checks can be made out to Platteville Community Arboretum, with MPO noted in the memo line, and mailed to P.O. Box 302, Platteville, WI 53818. Contributions can also be made online at www.plattevillearboretum.org . Contributions to PCA are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.  

For more information, contact Weber, 778-6914, geneweber4@gmail.com.