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Lithopolis' Columbus Street to be reconstructed this summer
(by Linda Dillman, staff writer - January 26, 2010)
Lithopolis' Columbus Street will get a full-depth, full-width reconstruction from Walnut Street to Delaware Street this summer.
The village received notification from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Jan. 15 that the $1.4 million endeavor was approved, ranking 12th out of 51 projects. It was Lithopolis' third attempt at funding the project.
In addition to local participation, the OPWC venture includes a $669,000 grant and $655,250 loan. Mayor Eric Sandine said the project will begin in July and, depending upon the weather, could be done as early as the end of the year.
"Getting the money is just the beginning," stated Sandine at Lithopolis Village Council's Jan. 26 meeting. "There's a lot of planning that has to be done - a lot of coordination with residents and businesses. We need to decide how to do it. We'll have one more meeting with the engineer to finalize engineering points, then we'll hold full scale public meetings. When we hold the public meetings, we'll take information from the public, as opposed to making legislative decisions."
The first public meeting will be held Feb. 10, 6 p.m. in council chambers on Columbus Street.
Due to the nature of the project, Columbus Street between the Delaware and Walnut street intersections will be closed to traffic. Since vehicles will be re-routed throughout the village, money was set aside for improvements to North and South streets and Cherry Alley. On street parking on South Street will be restricted to accommodate the additional traffic.
Sandine acknowledged the closure will impact everyone and said "quite a few" trees located in the right-of-way will be removed.
Sandine said replacement trees will eventually be installed, but the cost is not included in the project at this time.
"It's (Columbus Street) going to get a gigantic facelift," observed Councilman Mike Long. "It won't look the same."
Asphalt millings and dirt removed during the project will be reused by village workers throughout Lithopolis. Sandine also proposed the creation of a revolving loan fund for businesses to tap into for site improvements.
Secured by tax liens or assessments on the property owner in the event of a default, a total of approximately $10,000 from a debt service general fund account could be available to businesses impacted by the project.
"We should give them something since we're taking something away," suggested Long. "We should consider each application on a case-by-case basis."
A formal award letter from the OPWC is expected in May, with final agreements completed in June. Council decided in 2009 to complete design engineering outside the scope of the project. Had the village included engineering in the total cost, Lithopolis would have been one point under the funding threshold.
For information, contact Sandine at 837-2031 or via e-mail at esandine@lithopolis.org.
New council
Incumbent councilmen Mike Long and Ted Simon welcomed four new council members - Greg Hush, who was elected last November; and three appointed council members: Marianne Daily, Matthew Kidwell, and Larry Bigler. The appointments were made because Hush was the only candidate to run for four open seats last fall.
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