ST. PAUL, Neb. (AP) — The City Council has rejected a proposal to pour a new concrete pavement to replace a brick section of St. Paul’s main street.

The council voted 3-2 against a $1.5 million paving project that would have included removal of bricks from a stretch of Howard Avenue west of Ninth Street. Other brick streets in the downtown would have remained.

The vote came after a discussion about St. Paul’s brick streets, which have been a part of the community for 115 years or more. Several residents said removing bricks from any city streets would hurt the historical atmosphere of St. Paul and harm tourism.