MOUNT VERNON — In an effort to complete projects by June, City Council fast-tracked legislation on Monday for the city to solicit bids and award a contract for 2019 street resurfacing.
Resurfacing projects total $1.947 million. Council appropriated $400,000 for 2019.
City Engineer Brian Ball said the process of prioritizing streets to be resurfaced starts with a visual inspection of all city streets. From there, his office checks with Columbia Gas to see where crews will be working, and then with the city’s utility department to see what projects it has on tap. The final piece is looking at what grants the city has received.
Streets on the 2019 resurfacing list: $411,580.46 (with contingency)
- Clinton Road: spot repairs Upper Fredericktown Road to Mansfield Road, $6,760
- Columbus Road: South Main Street to railroad tracks, $31,930.35
- New Gambier Road: spot repairs Teryl Drive to Upper Gilchrist, $31,800
- Kirk Street: South Main Street to dead end, $36,720.50
- North Main Street: spot repairs Chestnut Street to Taylor Road, $59,960
- South Main Street: light at Ohio 13 to railroad tracks, $98,963.45
- McKenzie Street: Mount Vernon Avenue to Kirk Street, $18,988.25
- South Sandusky Street: West High Street to Ohio Avenue, $11,608
- North Sandusky Street: side street approaches from Chestnut to Franklin, $43,767.50
- Cooper and Cottage streets: Sandusky Street to Calhoun , $33,666
Streets from 2018 resurfacing list to be completed this year:
- Clay Street and transitions: Mount Vernon Avenue to Kirk Street
- South Main Street: Public Square to viaduct
- McGibney Road: chip seal Wooster Road to Sychar Road
- Upper Gilchrist Road thermoplastic repainting: spot repairs Coshocton Avenue to Yauger Road
- Vine Street: Mulberry to Gay
- Kokosing Gap Trail: Mount Vernon Avenue to Phillips Park, part of the bridge project
Safety-service Director Joel Daniels said that asphalt plants usually open mid-April for producing hot mix.
“If we can get out to bid as soon as possible, we can possibly complete [resurfacing] by June,” he said.
Council also authorized Auditor Terry Scott to pursue $2.6 million in bonds for the Mount Vernon Avenue bridge replacement project. He anticipates the city’s share of the project to be around $2.5 million; total cost is around $6.8 million. However, based on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s history of coming back to the city for more money, he favors erring on the side of a higher bond rather than lower.
Scott can expand the 15-year issue to 20 years if needed based on debt interest. He is aiming for $200,000 interest for 15 years.
Because of ODOT’s time requirements, the bond will be through private placement rather than open market. Scott said he has identified seven financial institutions interested in participating. He anticipates closing on the bond by April 15.
Ball said he expects to award the bridge contract on or around July 1. Work should begin by Aug. 1 and will take 12 months to complete.
The south side of the bridge will be replaced first. Work includes removing the current bridge, installing new piers, rebuilding the bridge, adding a bike lane, and redoing the intersection with Cougar Drive. When that is complete, traffic will switch to the south lane, and the north part of the bridge will be rebuilt.
Another project slated for this year is a 6-feet-wide multi-use path from Burger King on Newark Road to the railroad tracks on Blackjack Road. Ball said that in bidding the Beech Street sidewalk project, early season pricing is favorable. Council waived the required three readings and authorized the city to bid and contract for engineering design services as well as construction services for the multi-use path.
The city’s share of the $1.1 million project will be $102,644 from the engineering budget. Private donations will cover the remaining cost.
The engineering department has done preliminary design on the Burger King to Melick Street section; work will involve removing and replacing the existing sidewalk. Ball said the Melick Street to Blackjack Road section is more complicated, involving survey work and relocating ditches.
In other business, council:
- Approved the city’s representatives to the Regional Planning Commission (Council Members Nancy Vail and Sam Barone, and citizen members Gary Koester, Terry Steinmetz, and Brian Ball)
- Approved the renaming of ball field No. 1 at Phillips Park in honor of Army Pfc. Ryan Martin
- Gave a second reading to legislation allowing placement of small cell technology in city right-of-ways
- Gave a first reading to legislation to sell the pews in city council chambers and soliciting bids and contracting for the redesign of State Route 13
- Heard from Jeff Gottke of the Area Development Foundation about the background and vision of a downtown redesign study
- Heard an update from Dave Carpenter, parks and recreation superintendent, about updates on Ariel-Foundation Park and the new park adjacent to the Shellmar site.
