Concerns that sections of board fencing are blocking views of the Ohio River along the newly-constructed River Trail extension on Ohio Street were addressed by Mayor Michael Mullen during Thursday's Marietta City Council meeting.
"We've received several phone calls, and the fences meet the criteria set by the state for bicycle safety, although they do not meet our aesthetic criteria," Mullen said. "We'll be working on providing a better vista as the project is completed."
The sections of 4-foot-high board fence were installed along areas of the trail that run close to the river to help prevent bikers from riding off the trail and over the river bank. But at least one stretch of fencing entirely blocks the view of the river from a bench installed along the trail.
Mullen explained that the second phase of the River Trail is a project being overseen by the Ohio Department of Transportation that has provided funding through transportation enhancement monies. He said ODOT would be working with the city to address any issues resulting from the construction.
On a related note, during the public comments segment of Thursday's council session, South Sixth Street resident Debbie Streight expressed concerns about the third phase of the River Trail project, currently scheduled for construction in 2010.
"The bike path would go within inches of my yard and front door," she said, adding that current plans for the trail could cut off access to her property.
Streight said she had been to the city engineering department and had met with city development director Mike Stocky, but her concerns had not been addressed.
Following Thursday's council meeting, Mullen said plans for the third phase of the trail, which will extend the pathway from Fourth Street to the east side of Duck Creek near the Wal-Mart plaza, are still being reviewed.
"Nothing has been set in stone at this time," he said. "And we're open to whatever makes the best sense. There will also be multiple public hearings about this phase."
In other business, the mayor announced that the local Friends of the Armory group is submitting a 175-page application for a $461,000 grant to provide energy upgrades to the armory renovation project.
Mullen said if the application is successful it would provide funding for more efficient windows, doors, lighting, heating and air conditioning, and other energy-saving initiatives for the armory project.
City safety-service director Chad Presley also announced that crews are completing a second pass on the city leaf collection route and reminded residents to pay attention to the temporary "no parking" signs that will be placed along one side of streets where the leaf vacuum machine will be operating.
