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MARQUETTE -- A proposal to construct sidewalks on streets near a Marquette middle school is causing controversy in the neighborhood.  Representatives from Bothwell Middle School believe it's a vital improvement to the area to keep students safe, but some residents say it's not necessary.

Michael Koskey has been a crossing guard at Bothwell for eight years.  He's got a bird's eye view of Mesnard Street everyday.

"There's been a couple of times where the kids were walking and people are not watching where they're driving and they come close to them," says Koskey. 

For more than a year, the school has been surveying and studying how their students get to school as well as vehicle traffic on Mesnard and Altamont Streets.

"We haven't had a serious accident happen yet, luckily.  But that doesn't mean that the routes are safe.  Part of it comes in the physical exercise component," says Principal Bill Saunders.  "We don't have as many students that walk to school because it isn't safe."

The school says the evidence is clear:  sidewalks, better lighting and painted crosswalks are needed.  They've also got a way to fund it.

A $36,000 grant from MDOT's "Safe Routes to School Program," and it would save residents the cost of putting in those sidewalks.  But it's not that simple.  Some residents disagree with the school's findings.  They say they don't want to lose part of their yards for a utility few would use. 

As for the kids themselves, Monday morning about a dozen of them walked Mesnard to get to school.  To some, it didn't seem to be a big deal.

"It's been kind of easy; they go around you when you're walking," said fifth grader Averie Stone, referring to the vehicles.

There'll be further discussion at the Marquette City Commission Monday at 7 p.m. in the Marquette City Commission Chambers.