Marietta's 2012 asphalt paving program is not yet under way, but city officials are already looking to fund the 2013 program, according to a discussion during a city council streets and transportation committee meeting Wednesday.
"After a recent meeting with city engineer Joe Tucker and Mayor Joe Matthews, it was decided we should apply to OPWC (Ohio Public Works Commission) for a grant from their 2013 round of funding," said Wayne Rinehart, project manager with the city engineering department.
He said an application for the $400,000 grant would be due Oct. 1 for the city to be considered for the 2013 round of funding.
Rinehart said the city would be responsible for the remainder of the estimated $540,000-plus paving project.
"Where will we get the matching funds for this grant?" asked Councilman Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward.
Tucker said as in the past few years some of the matching monies would come from the city's 2013 Community Development Block Grant entitlement.
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- Meetings of Marietta City Council's water, sewer and sanitation committee, investment board, finance committee, and lands, buildings and parks committee, are scheduled beginning at 3:15 p.m. today in the community building at Lookout Park.
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More than $66,000 was set aside from the 2012 block grant and $73,400 in other local funding was used to match the OPWC grant approved for this year's paving program.
"But that limits the amount of CDBG monies we have for other city projects," Vukovic said.
Rinehart said the main reason the block grant funding is recommended for the annual paving projects is because Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps are required by law to be installed when paving city streets.
"And CDBG monies can be used citywide to install ADA ramps," he said.
Vukovic noted that the amount of block grant funding is shrinking every year, and there's no guarantee that the subsidy will be continued in future years.
Rinehart said if the OPWC grant is awarded work on the 2013 paving would start in July and be completed by mid-October.
As for this year's paving program, he said the sole bidder was local contractor Shelley & Sands which submitted a bid of $498,044, just more than $4,000 above the original engineer's estimate of $493,813.
"It looks like that will be an awardable bid," Rinehart said.
In other business Wednesday, Edgewood Drive resident Jim Neville asked the committee to consider restricting parking to only one side of that street.
"Most of the properties have their own driveways, so people don't have to park on the street," Neville said, but added that some residents still park on both sides of Edgewood.
Streets and transportation committee chairman Denver Abicht said he had looked at the street and agreed with Neville.
"If there's parking on both sides of the street, ambulances and other emergency vehicles could not get through," he said. "With parking on just one side there would be plenty of room."
Vukovic asked if other residents in the neighborhood would agree with Neville's recommendation.
"I suggest you petition the neighborhood for support and bring the petition back to this committee so we'll know the majority of residents there are OK with this," he said.
Neville said he would petition the neighbors and bring it to the committee in two weeks.
