(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has agreed to proceed with keeping the  downtown brick streets in some fashion after a majority of residents responding to a survey indicated their support for keeping them

Ian Schuetz , a member of the downtown brick streets committee, told the Commission Monday evening that 289 residents responding to the survey favored restoring the brick streets, while 187 felt they should be replaced with concrete.

The survey, which was to be returned by March 10th, was included in this month’s water bill.   About 13-hundred surveys were mailed out.

Schuetz said a number of the surveys included comments.   He said those in support of restoring the brick streets felt they should be kept for their historical value while those on the side were concerned about the cost associated with restoring them.

Schuetz said some felt the restoration option outlined on the survey was not the best way to go.  That option involved taking up the bricks, laying down six inches of concrete and putting the bricks back on top.

He said the committee doesn’t feel confident in recommending the city move forward with that option.  "We would like to suggest that the Commission continue to sanction the Brick Street Committee, as a group, to explore what options are out there," Schuetz told the Commission. "A lot of the no's said "I'd be for this if the cost wasn't double," and the more we talk to folks, we think there may be ways to do that."
 
Mayor Steffen Shamburg directed the committee to research options and bring back a recommendation to the Commission.