Posted on November 16, 2018
City Council reviewed a list of potential capital improvement projects for 2019 on Tuesday.
During a budget work session prior to Tuesday’s regular meeting, City Manager James Hockaday presented a proposal detailing potential city projects, improvements and new equipment for departments. The grand total for equipment and capital improvement is more than $10 million, though much of the cost for the projects would be covered by grant and state funding sources.
One of the biggest potential projects, totaling more than $4 million, would be for a Conneaut Creek dredge material facility, which would be fully funded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Hockaday said he met with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency about dredge dewatering and submitted a proposal for a Conneaut Creek dredge material facility to the state and the Ohio Controlling Board.
The project is part of the city’s solution to clear the sediments out of the water port in Conneaut Harbor. The plan is to pull the sediments on shore, dewater them and reuse them.
He is expecting to hear back from the Ohio Controlling Board in December. If it’s approved, the state will send it back to city council to approve the project.
“We don’t have to move forward with this, but I think we should,” Hockaday said.
Also under the proposed capital improvement budget, the water plant would receive $1.2 million to, among other things, rebuild and improve water plant filters and the low service pump station, with major funding coming from the Water Pollution and Controlled Loan Fund.
A new project is also proposed to fix the damaged line under Interstate 90 and the Mill Street waterline that has not functioned for several years.
“We probably would not have had the pressurization issues last week had this line been in service,” Hockaday said.
Other proposed water department projects included $328,000 to continue water line construction project on Route 20, replace a non-compliant water distribution truck, hydrants, hydra stop valve insertions and replacement meters.
The sewer department proposed $412,000 for projects and equipment including replacing the sewer line on Residence Street because it is seeping and potholes are above it. The city is also seeking a mini excavator to share between departments, pump upgrades for Gateway and Dorman stations because it does not have back up generation, new blower installation, a new truck and window and door replacement on building.
The streets department’s budget includes more than $2.6 million for the road projects on Chamberlain and Parrish roads, which will be funded by Ohio Department of Transportation Jobs and Jobs Ohio. Other projects include engineering on the Center Road bridge, paving reconstruction on West Main and its engineering costs, urban paving on Route 7 and Lake Road, city-wide paving funded by the street levy and matched by the Ohio Public Works Commission, a Lake Road storm sewer funded by the city and an OPWC grant, stabilization on Dorman Road funded by Ohio Water Development Authority and an East Side Urban Paving Program.
The Police Department has requested $50,000 for two new police charger vehicles and upgrades to the jail bathrooms funded by the city and cash levy.
The fire department proposed $297,000 for a new ambulance funded by lease and loan proceeds, another set of protecting clothing and turnout gear for hazardous toxins, radio upgrades, hose replacement and cameras which will be funded by the city.
Council members did not take any actions on the proposal Tuesday.
In other business:
• Hockaday said the water main break in the area of Chestnut and Depot streets has been handled. Vibrations from hitting the road popped a 12-inch water line at an intersection in the Depot and Chestnut streets Nov. 8.
He said crews had to depressurize the water line, replace it with new valves and restore the water to normal pressure.
New state rules require the city to send a boil advisory to alert the entire zone.
“If its an older area we have to notify residents that the water could possibly contain lead and copper as of Oct. 1,” Hockaday said.
The boil advisory was lifted on Sunday afternoon.
“Everything was fine and entirely precautionary,” he said, adding, “I certainly appreciate the efforts of the water distribution crew as well as Public Works and Waste Water. They worked a lot of hours in some very harsh conditions. I think they did more than a commendable job.”
• Aaron Joslin was appointed to the Conneaut Port Authority on Tuesday. He will serve for an unexpired term ending on Feb. 23.
“Welcome Aaron Joslin to the Conneaut Port Authority,” said Deborah Newcomb, council president.
Source: Star Beacon
