Graffiti removal to cost St. Charles $60,0000
Painting trestle popular with high school classes

March 30, 2007
By Michele du Vair Special to The Beacon News
ST. CHARLES -- After years of neglect, the graffiti-ridden railroad trestle just north of the St. Charles police station finally is getting a face-lift.

The City Council has accepted a bid of $60,000 to clean and partially paint the Fox River span, owned by Union Pacific Railroad. The fee will cover materials and labor and will focus on removing graffiti from the piers and bridge surface facing Main Street.

"Our main purpose is to have the bridge look a little better," said Greg Rejnert, public services superintendent for the city. "I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't been done (painted) in 30 years."

Rejnert said city officials have had many conversations with Union Pacific, encouraging the railroad to spruce up the trestle on its own dime. Ultimately, however, the city gave up trying and decided to clean it up with Union Pacific approval.

The $60,000 bid, tendered by ERA Valdivia Contractors Inc. of Chicago, was the lower of two bids submitted to the city, Rejnert said -- and actually lower than he had expected.

"It's expensive. It's hazardous. It's not like painting a garage," Rejnert said. "And you're hiring professional union workers to do the job."

"It'd be a lot more money if we painted the whole thing," agreed Jo Krieger, 4th Ward alderman. "I just wonder if we should wait to do it until after this year's graduation."

For years, high school seniors have scampered up the trestle in the dark of night and spray-painted their class year on the trestle's surface. No one is quite sure how they manage to get past the fences on both sides, Krieger said, adding that it's a whole lot harder to do now than it has been in the past.

"They're 18-year-olds," added Rejnert. "They can do about anything they set their minds to."

Despite Krieger's admonition to postpone work until after this year's graduation, Rejnert said the city likely will have the work done in April for budgetary purposes.

"So the graduating class of '07 will have a clean slate," Rejnert said with a laugh.