Troy City Council unanimously approved a $64,000 construction plan to secure a safe route for kids walking to school during Wednesday’s meeting.

The deal with Sandon Construction Company will upgrade four blocks of sidewalks between W.F. Morrison Elementary and Larson Lumber.

The project will be paid for with a federal grant from Safe Routes to Schools and a state grant from the Community Transportation Enhancement Program. Construction will begin in early May and be completed by June 30, according to Mayor Darren Coldwell.

Mayor Coldwell also announced great success with a recent initiative to recover delinquent water and power bills. Forty notices were sent out mid-March to residents who were at least 90 days behind their payments, giving them until April 8 to pay up. Of those 40 bills, 38 were made current.

“That added up to about $31,000,” Coldwell said. “It’s huge. It was a pleasant surprise to get such a response. Once you get behind, it can be hard to catch up.”

The final note during a light meeting was the official purchase of a 1999 Jeep by council member Joe Arts, for the sum of $1,627.38. The vehicle was previously owned by the city.

Looking forward, Coldwell said he is excited about Thursday’s Clean Up Troy Day.

“On the 22nd the elementary kids will be out and the high schoolers will be out on the 24th,” Coldwell said. “If anyone needs help to get something off of their property, they can call City Hall and we will get someone down there to help.”