The city of Shelby has been awarded federal highway dollars for the reconstruction of Mansfield Avenue, and on Monday evening city council authorized Mayor Marilyn John as the Director of Public Service to enter into an agreement for said funds.
The Local Public Agency (LPA) Federal Local-Let Project agreement between the city of Shelby and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) outlines the details of the project and cost breakdown. Transportation activities eligible to receive federal funding include the installation of turn lanes, signal upgrades and installation, and the paving of Mansfield Avenue, also known as State Route 39, from Mickey Road to Franklin Avenue in the city of Shelby.
“This is an agreement that is identifying the scope and the maximum amount that ODOT will use in their federal funds for this project,” explained Project Manager Joe Gies.
The agreement explains the total cost of the project is estimated at $2,994,000 and ODOT shall provide to the city of Shelby 80 percent of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of $2,195,200 in federal funds. This leaves $798,000 to the city of Shelby. The funds shall be applied to the eligible costs associated with the actual construction of the transportation project improvements and construction engineering/inspection activities.
In addition to the construction on Mansfield Avenue, Gies noted ODOT is also conducting a safety study after concerns had been identified starting at High School Avenue to Mickey Road.
“There could be the possibility of more safety funds coming our way to help take our costs down even more,” he said. “They’re still working on that and they’ll bring that in, and we’ll get a consultant to work through all this because that’s going to be a lot of paperwork. So stay tuned.”
More construction work throughout Shelby was outlined in Councilman Nathan Martin’s report for the Utilities and Streets Committee. The excavating and replacing of water lines for Edgewood Drive started on July 9, with Wentz Avenue next on the list after the completion of Edgewood. The total project cost is $175,608.38.
“Our share of that financial responsibility is 50 percent, or $87,804.19, splitting with the Ohio Public Works Commission,” said Martin. “We’re paying for that with the Project Equipment Rider collections.”
Martin also shared that the traffic commission approved the removal of several multi-way stop signs around the city of Shelby. Stop sign removal of the first four intersections has been completed: West and Marvin, West and Auburn, Sharon and Marvin, and Sharon and Auburn. Four more intersections are scheduled for removal by the end of August: East Smiley and 2nd, Whitney and 2nd, Whitney and 3rd, and Whitney and Clark. The final two intersections, Parkwood and Roberts and Parkwood and Louise, are scheduled for removal in October.
In other news, Councilwoman Pat Carlisle shared from the Finance/Personnel Committee that the General Fund showed a positive balance of $314,156 on June 30, 2014. The Police and Fire Pension Funds also showed improvements with $7,642 and $3,012 respectively.
“Both (funds) were looking better, but have cash balances more than 70 percent less than June 2013,” said Carlisle.