By Janelle Patterson

The Marietta Times

jpatterson@mariettatimes.com

Marietta City Council authorized $27,650 in special legislation Thursday during its regular meeting.

The first portion was $13,750 for sewer line repair engineering for five sinkholes, four of which surfaced in Harmar after the February flooding and high water events.

The five locations where the firm Pickering Associates is to conduct surveys, provide engineering designs for repairs and provide cost estimates are:

¯ Fort Street near the riverside wood bench.

¯ 100 Market St.

¯ 124 Gilman Ave.

¯ The intersection of Virginia Street and Gilman Avenue.

¯ The intersection of Post and Butler streets.

“Mr. (Steve) Elliott explained these lines are in the floodplain; if we continue to have more floods these interceptor lines are at risk of failure,” explained Councilman Mike Scales, noting the expertise of Wastewater Superintendent Steve Elliott when the financial portion of the vote came to a head.

Council also authorized a contract with Ken Strahler Masonry Inc. to repair Ellenwood Avenue, which runs between Fourth and Fifth streets between Washington Elementary and the main Marietta branch of the Washington County Public Library.

“It is seasonal work and if the contractor is freed up then it would be nice to get it done quickly,” said Councilwoman Kathy Downer Thursday prior to suspending the second and third readings. “Our public library is committed to pedestrian and driver safety. The library would like to see the alley be made safer.”

City Law Director Paul Bertram explained the Washington County Library is paying a portion of the $13,900 project, via an assessment to the property taxes.

“The original contract a year ago was the same price, so Mr. Strahler has not increased the price for the work in a year to do this work,” said Bertram.

But Councilwoman Cassidi Shoaf questioned how much of the $13,900 contract would be paid by the city and how much would be assessed to the library board’s property taxes. Bertram said that number is still to be determined which resulted in Shoaf’s vote against the ordinance.

“Not knowing how much it’s going to cost the city I’m hesitant to agree to pay it,” said Shoaf after the meeting. “I’m not against the work, but I’d like to know how much we’re going to have to pay.”

The final vote saw 6:1 in favor of the contract authorization.

Safety-Service Director Jonathan Hupp explained after the meeting to Shoaf that the current streets budget can usurp the excess cost of the alley work in replacement of other alley work unable to be accomplished this season elsewhere.

Council also voted after the third reading of Resolution 30 to authorize a grant application for the Northwest Territory Playground renovations.

Councilwoman Cindy Oxender pointed out that a supplemental resolution introduced and adopted Thursday holds the Fountain Foundation liable for any match required by the state for the granted funds. The grant application is for $500,000, which would be awarded to the city. The Fountain Foundation would pay the 50 percent match required by the state.

“The city is not on the line for anything, just what match (the foundation) would bring to the table,” said Bertram.

Oxender said additional donations are being raised through professional organizations and circles to build the matching funds.

Both resolutions were unanimously passed.

Other legislation passed Thursday included:

¯ Authorization to sell flood-damaged docks online that used to be located at the Marietta Harbor. The minimum price for those docks to be listed is $1,000.

¯ Authorization to sell a 2003 International Diesel Aqua Tech B10 Jet Vac, a 2001 Dodge 2500 pickup truck, a Case International Tractor with finishing mower and a Toro Master Z mower.

¯ Standard transfers and appropriations concerning $63,909.13 in funds for law enforcement, indigent burials, insurance refunds and sewer treatment professional services.