RSS | Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text

Local News

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Village to seek grant for Vance Street project

Dehaven's Showplace
By JIM MAURER

Staff Writer

CAREY — Carey Council gave a second reading Monday to an ordinance allowing Village Administrator Roy Johnson to apply for a state grant to help pay for the Vance Street improvement project.

The grant, available from the Ohio Department of Transportation through the federal government's Roadside Enhancement Program, would pay for 80 percent of the estimated $1.2 million project. The village's share would be about $240,000.

The improvements would include burying some utility lines, and installing new sidewalks, benches, trash receptacles and street lights. It would be the second phase of the downtown improvement project.

It's likely that when bids are sought, the cost may be higher, based on estimates for the first phase of the project on Findlay Street.

Johnson told council the village's estimated share of the Findlay Street improvements have increased about $45,000 and the entire project has increased about $187,000 from $2.73 million to $2.92 million, according to an estimate from CTI Engineers, Uniontown.

The village will pay 20 percent of that project, or about $584,000.

However, the village received a separate $250,000 grant from the state to pay for waterline improvements, which will reduce its overall cost.

The state will seek bids May 15 for the first phase, and that work is scheduled to get under way later this year.

Cost adjustments for electrical, storm sewer, road surfacing and patching, and an irrigation and watering system for hanging planters on the light posts have resulted in the first phase increase, Johnson said.

"Am I the only one who gets the sense these people don't know what they're doing?" said Councilman Tony Wenzinger. "Every time they come back with a higher price."

He said he was not happy someone from the engineering firm did not attend the council meeting to present the information in person.

Separately, Johnson will meet today with personnel from Jester, Jones and Schifer, a Marion architecture firm, to review plans for a new Public Works Department building. Cost estimates continue to rise for this building, too.

The 40-foot by 72-foot building is now estimated at $90,000. Last year the estimate was $47,000.

The project has not been bid yet because of the higher price, Johnson said. He hopes to get the final estimate between $40,000 and $50,000 before seeking bids.

Separately, Fire Chief Jay Gretzinger has been training six members of the Public Works Department to assist at fire scenes. Each person requires four hours of training. One electric department employee also will be trained.

Gretzinger requested the assistance because the department is short-handed during daytime hours, when many volunteer firefighters work outside the village.

It will cost about $6,000 additional per year to insure the additional workers, Johnson said.

Contact Staff Writer Jim Maurer at:

419-427-8420

Send an e-mail to Jim Maurer
Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail rebeccaconklin@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.
   VIRTUAL VILLAGE
TisaWee Farm

BUILD IT UP: Keep tabs on the chickens as community blogger Chris Cooperrider builds her homestead by hand.


Far Flung Guest Book

DROP A LINE: Whether you're always here or just passing through, visit and sign our online Guest Book on the Far Flung blog.


Virtual Village
   PHOTO GALLERY
Randy's Seen

IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.


You can purchase photographs from The Courier through our easy-to-use online system. Get prints, mousepads, T-shirts and more!

   LOCAL NEWS
  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
Doug Berger wrote in article "Group protests 'cap and trade'":
Freedom to burn coal?
“ They don't have any real arguments against cap and trade because they refuse to understand it. They'd rather wear their flags an... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 11:11:11 PM
Julie Graber wrote in article "Slavery is alive and thriving":
Brooke Ludi
“ WOW! My parent just sent me the link to this article. I was Brooke's babysitter for years (I was Julie Hostetler then.) I now... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 11:10:29 PM
Brandon King wrote in article "Group protests 'cap and trade'":
cap and trade
“ Awful hot start to July. I thought I was going to burn to death with the 68 degrees we had on Thursday. I thought the planet wa... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 10:38:31 PM
Michael wrote in article "Hancock woman defrauded in coin buying scam: Ohio AG":
Coin Scam
“ Don't these people know how to hang up a phone? ” Read More...
7/3/2009 3:27:31 PM
Ellen Katka wrote in article "Frost thrust into national spotlight over prom":
Tyler Frost
“ It "frosts" me that Tyler shows so little respect for his own word. More and more a word is not a persons bond. Since Tyler and... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 1:52:33 PM
. wrote in article "VB school board has a say on tax breaks":
Say YES!
“ I would hope that VB will say yes. Completely stupid on the Board's part if they say no. Yes, there will be a reduction in pro... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 1:47:47 PM
R. Hanzely wrote in article "Group protests 'cap and trade'":
cap and trade
“ I wonder how hot this planet has to get before we do something about it, then it will cost more. I don't believe the estimate of... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 12:53:23 PM
Lew wrote in article "Findlay's population falls again":
Stat checking
“ The writer may want to apply a calculator to the totals for the villages in Hancock County. Even though their numbers decreased... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 12:25:18 PM
Reydolfo Cruz wrote in article "Sobriety stops net no OVI arrests":
some of you don't deserve freedom
“ Some of the posters have missed the point. Re-read my original post.
Todd Lucas,the direct answer to your question is "NO". My... ” Read More...
7/3/2009 10:50:24 AM
Josh Woodward wrote in article "Group protests 'cap and trade'":
Aww, so cute!
“ They just... *sniffle sniffle*... love their country sooo much! ” Read More...
7/3/2009 10:38:15 AM
  U.S. Headlines
  World News
  Ohio News
News Briefs No newspaper on Saturday
The Courier won't be published on Saturday, in observance of the July 4th holiday. All newspaper offices will be closed today.

The Courier will be published on Monday, and the newsroom will begin working on that newspaper at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Other Courier offices will resume operations at 8 a.m. Monday.

During the holiday weekend, Courier subscribers who have a question or complaint about newspaper delivery may call the circulation department at 419-422-5158 and leave a voice mail message.



Online news

While there won't be another Courier newspaper until Monday, look for news and sports updates this weekend at The Courier's Web site, www.thecourier.com.

Series of garage break-ins reported
Break-ins have been reported in seven garages in an area just south of downtown this week, according to Findlay police.

Residents on Washington Avenue, First Street, Maple Avenue, and Lima Street reported missing power tools and other equipment. The break-ins were reported to police Tuesday.

Among the missing items was a $500 Dewalt tool kit, stolen from a Lima Street garage.

There are no suspects in the streak of burglaries, according to police. However, according to the report, residents in the area reported seeing young people using lawn furniture to barricade alleys in the area Monday night.

Ottawa 'tea party'
OTTAWA -- Pastor Larry Bibler will sponsor a "tea party" rally at 1 p.m. Saturday on the steps of the Putnam County Courthouse in Ottawa.

Bibler intends the rally to celebrate freedom and protest taxes.