Marietta paving spending nears $2 million
Marietta City Councilman Bill Gossett discusses the paving projects for the city during Thursday evening's council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Safety Service Director Steve Wetz explains paths the city could take for reviewing traffic on Lancaster Street during Thursday evening's Marietta City Council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Marietta City Councilman Bill Gossett discusses the paving projects for the city during Thursday evening's council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Safety Service Director Steve Wetz explains paths the city could take for reviewing traffic on Lancaster Street during Thursday evening's Marietta City Council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Trending
MARIETTA -- City Council approved legislation Thursday evening that will bring this year's street paving spending to nearly $2 million and discussed speeding concerns near the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County.
Councilman Bill Gossett, chairman of the Streets and Transportation Committee, said the measures bring the combined cost of the city's asphalt and alternate paving programs to $1,955,683.53.
Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 101, authorizing a contract for citywide asphalt resurfacing and the replacement or installation of accessible curb ramps. Councilman Jon Grimm said the money for the work had already been appropriated.
Members also unanimously approved Ordinance 102, authorizing a change order of up to $91,704.78 with Strawser Construction Inc. of Columbus for the alternate paving program. Council suspended the second and third readings of both measures before adopting them.
"It marks one of the largest amounts of spending dedicated to paving in recent years," Gossett said.
He later addressed residents' concerns about the alternate paving work, saying it remained unfinished and still needed to be sealed.
Council also unanimously authorized a contract or contracts totaling up to $45,500 with Insituform Technologies LLC for the Leland Avenue drainage project. Gossett said a clogged culvert or drain had caused serious flooding near railroad tracks. Grimm said the safety and property damage concerns warranted emergency action.
Traffic safety near the Boys & Girls Club drew discussion after Clerk Michele Newbanks read a letter from Amanda Cooper, a parent, and Justin Clark, CEO of the club, requesting measures to reduce speeding on Lancaster Street and an increased police presence.
The letter said Cooper was nearly struck by a speeding vehicle while taking her child to camp over the summer. It raised concerns about children, parents, staff and others crossing the roadway to reach the club.
Councilman Ron Wesel, whose ward includes the area, said residents had raised similar concerns before and urged consideration of speed bumps.
Safety Service Director Steve Wetz said the city installed a crosswalk with flashing beacons about three years ago, but some families cross elsewhere. He said an Ohio Department of Transportation contact advised against speed bumps at the location and suggested considering a crosswalk in the middle of the block.
Wetz said he could ask police to increase their presence and work with the club and parents to encourage use of the existing crosswalk.
Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 97, authorizing an agreement with Dynegy Energy Services for the city's electric aggregation program, which includes opt-out provisions. Law Director Paul Bertram said the agreement was expected to take effect Dec. 1.
Councilman Harley Noland cast the lone vote against suspending the reading rules, saying he wanted the city to seek offers from multiple brokers and begin the process earlier. He joined the other six members in voting to adopt the ordinance.
Council also unanimously approved amendments proposed by Wesel to Resolution 22 concerning the Start Westward memorial in East Muskingum Park with no further action taken. The amendments added references to restoration and preservation of the sandstone memorial in place, removed a statement asserting state ownership and revised language about a state historic preservation official's assessment of the effects of moving the sculpture.
Council unanimously adopted Resolution 26, approving the city's public housing agency annual plan for fiscal year 2027 and authorizing the mayor to certify it to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Jessica Stanley, assistant director of senior and community services for Washington-Morgan Community Action, said the annual plan outlines the agency's goals for HUD. Those goals include applying for additional housing vouchers when funding is available, promoting its homeownership program and encouraging participation in the family self-sufficiency program. Stanley said the agency can also connect housing program participants with other services offered through Community Action.
Other spending measures included transfers of $88,000 from police salaries and wages to police overtime and $35,000 from fire salaries and wages to fire overtime. Grimm attributed the police overtime need to turnover and emphasized that the transfer used money already budgeted for payroll.
Council also approved $1,300 for the municipal court's share of an elevator telephone, authorized the sale of a 2020 John Deere ProGator with a minimum bid of $35,000 and amended legislation concerning temporary seasonal public works positions.
Noland served as council president pro tem while Council President Susan Vessels served as acting mayor.
Council's next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in Room 10 of the Armory.