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WARREN -- City council approved an emergency ordinance Tuesday authorizing officials to advertise for bids for the 2024 city road paving program and the Bane Street and Miller Street waterline project.
The ordinance also allows the administration to execute the grant agreements for both projects with the Ohio Public Works Commission.
According to the legislation, the 2024 road paving program will address sections of Mahoning Avenue, Perkinswood Boulevard, Central Parkway and Eastland Avenue. According to the ordinance, the funding breakdown for the project grant agreement includes $292,560 from the city's general fund, $195,040 through Community Development Block Grant funds and $572,400 through the OPWC grant.
The total resurfacing project cost is $1.06 million.
"It's a pretty good deal," city engineering director Paul Makosky said. "The resurfacing that's outlined, I would expect to get that done next year.
For the waterline replacement project, the financial breakdown would include $722,200 from the local water fund, $439,650 in grants through the public works commission and a $408,200 loan from the public works commission.
The total cost for the waterline project is $1.57 million.
Makosky said the waterlines considered for replacement are in rough shape.
"It's my understanding that the lines are among the worst we have in the city," Makosky said. "I believe that we had 25 documented breaks over like a four- or five-year period. It's terrible."
Franco Lucarelli, city water director, also reminded council members about a waterline replacement on Mahoning Avenue from Summit Street north to the city limits.
"We're going to replace that water main that is close to 100 years old from Summit to the city property line," Lucarelli said. "Then Paul (Makosky) is going to come in the following year and repave it."
Lucarelli said the construction for that replacement is scheduled to start "this month."
Makosky said the applications for funds are due to the Ohio Public Works Commission by the second week of December. Since the next council meeting is not until Dec. 13, Makosky requested the ordinances be adopted as an emergency measure. They were approved unanimously.
TAX REVIEW BOARD
Council also unanimously adopted a resolution to appoint Mark Wetstein and Dimitrios Aggelis as members of the local board of tax review.
Wetstein and Aggelis are set to serve for a two-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2023, and ending Dec. 31, 2024, according to the legislation.
"There's three people on that board, and during COVID, I don't think the legislature set up any mechanism for them to meet remotely," Councilman Greg Greathouse, D-3rd Ward, said. "So I think everybody's terms just expired and it has been sitting there. The treasurer (Tom Letson) said we've got to get this board back in case anyone's got a beef and they want to appeal a decision by the income tax department."
Greathouse said he personally knows Wetstein, who he said was happy to serve. Greathouse said Aggelis was suggested by Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa.
Greathouse said the third member of the board will be appointed by Mayor Doug Franklin.