OC paving planned next month

“The bids came in at less than anticipated,” Schroyer said.

The paving project will cost $613,666.25, Schroyer said. A total of $227,090.75 of the city’s Community Development Block Grant funds and $386,575.50 in liquid fuels funds will be used to pay for the paving project. Additional funds will come from the capital reserve general fund.

Streets included in the paving contract are Orange from Front to Tank, North from Division to Wyllis, Division from Front to West First and Innis from Front to West First.

Ellen Drive from Penn Way to Fisher Avenue is listed an an alternate project.

The paving will probably start in mid to late September, Schroyer said.

“This continues the trend of reinvesting in the city, employees and infrastructure,” Schroyer said of the planned paving.

Earlier in the year, several letters had been sent to the city concerning Ellen Drive, and several months ago an Ellen Drive resident addressed council to tell the panel the street was full of holes.

Schroyer said “on a side note the best time to get a street in the radar is in the fall when the paving committee meets.”

“Folks seem to think that they send a letter in and the street gets paved the next week. That is not how it works,” Schroyer said. He added that paving projects take a lot of planning.

He added that the city is aware of what streets are in bad shape.

Gustafson said he was glad IA got the paving contract following the work they had done on the emergency repairs on Wyllis and Bissell. Schroyer and Gustafson both said they were very pleased and impressed with the repair work done in a matter of weeks on the two streets.

Gustafson shared that the city received a “heartfelt letter” from a Wyllis Street resident.

Schroyer said the emergency repairs recently on Wyllis and Bissell will “push $200,000 when they are done. It was an expensive, unexpected repair,” he said.

“A city this size has an unexpected repair like that and it makes an impact on your budget,” he added.

In other business Thursday, council approved a church’s request to hold a service in Justus Park on Sept. 11 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Rev. Tom Carr, the new pastor of Trinity, Plumer and Bethel United Methodist churches, made the request to council. The service would start at 10 a.m.

Carr said he would Hasson Park as a back-up if Justus Park is unavailable.

The minister said he would like city officials and first responders to be part of the service.

City manager Mark Schroyer said the request was a bit different than other churches’ requests to use the park because Carr is also asking the city to provide electricity.

Gustafson added that the anniversary is “well worth marking.”

Councilman Mike Walentosky said he would like to see the service take place in Hasson Park due to the park being under used and a beautiful location. Walentosky also said there would be less potential for traffic issues, but he added “it is their decision.”

In another matter, Schroyer also gave an update on the city’s bond situation.

He said the bond issue is wrapping up and planning is starting for the capital projects, including city hall. He added that “time is of the essence” due to the antiquated HVAC system and boiler in the building, costly items to replace.

Schroyer has laid out for council three options for the future of city hall – renovate the existing building, move to another location or construct a new building.

Council also approved the city’s three-year community development plan on Thursday.

Kelly Ryen, the city’s director of community and economic development, said nothing is new or different in the plan.

The city also approved a request from Oil City High School to use the Central Avenue Plaza and West First Street for homecoming activities, including a parade, pep rally and bonfire, on Thursday, Sept. 23, between 6 and 9 p.m.