[ back ]
Priority projects total $7.6 million
(by Sue Reid - February 23, 2011)
Priority projects total $7.6 million
By SUE REID
Solon City Council's public works committee approved a motion last week to fund infrastructure priority projects for 2011 amounting to about $7.6 million.
If the projects move forward as they are estimated and result in a shortage in the infrastructure budget, the committee approved either withdrawing that amount from the general fund or issuing notes, pending a review from the finance director. That motion also was approved last week by council's finance committee last week.
The shortage could be about $1.3 million, according to the estimates.
City Engineer John J. Busch shared with the committee his recommendations for projects in a priority order. He broke them down in three levels of priority, he said. The city has within its budget funds to cover priority-one and priority-two projects.
Mr. Busch also noted that 2010 carryover encumbrances amount to $3.3 million. Over $1 million of that amount is attributed to the Pettibone Road reconstruction. "I expect to see a little less of a carryover for next year's projects," he said, noting that the Pettibone Road project would be complete.
Public Works Director James S. Stanek told the committee that this is the last year the city will run into a situation where it has more needs than dollars.
Councilman William D. Mooney said he's comfortable in going $1.5 million over with the projects. "I'm comfortable accepting priority one through three," he said.
The engineer's estimates are conservative, Mr. Busch noted.
"If it all gets spent, I'm comfortable taking $1 million out of the general fund," Mr. Mooney said, or whatever Finance Director William Weber would recommend.
Top-priority projects recommended for this year include the Briar Hill Lake dam reconstruction, which was delayed last year due to the fact that approvals from the Army Corps of Engineers had not come in. A total of $1.16 million is being estimated for that project, half of which will be paid through assessments to Briar Hill residents.
Although the Briar Hill Homeowners Association owns the lake and dam, city officials have said they are important components of Solon's storm-water system.
Several years ago, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources ordered numerous deteriorating dams throughout the state to be repaired or replaced.
Other top priorities include: improvements to the intersection of Cochran Road and Carter Street at a cost of about $1.8 million, with city's contribution approximately $1.3 million; continued work on the Bainbridge Road reconstruction, $662,000; the citywide traffic-signal upgrade through the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, a two-year project in which the city will pay $1.5 million of the $7 million-plus price tag; Pettibone Road retaining wall, $34,400; sewer grouting, $50,000; replacement of Kingswood Drive, $500,000; engineering charge-backs, $350,000; and supplemental inspection services, $150,000.
Priority-two projects for 2011 include the Preserve subdivision storm-water modification phase three at $416,000. Mr. Busch said the city has applied for funding through the Sustain our Great Lakes Community Grant program and is waiting to hear back on that. The maximum amount of that grant would be $150,000.
Priority-two projects also include: street striping, $139,000; materials testing, $80,000; sanitary- and storm-system repair, $350,000; emergency and miscellaneous roadway repair, $188,000; preventative-maintenance crack sealing, $200,000; and additional supplemental inspection services for those projects, $125,000.
Recommended priority-three projects include: concrete repairs, $800,000; asphalt repairs, $400,000; and Woodbury detention modifications, $100,000.
Recommended priority-four projects, which officials said are most likely to be done in 2012, include: intersection improvements at SOM Center (Route 91) and Cannon roads, $950,000; Pepperwood drainage improvement, phase two, $1.5 million; Solon Road sidewalks, $360,000; St. Mary's Stream bank stabilization, $150,000; and Bridle Trail sanitary sewer force main replacement, $250,000.
In addition, priority-four projects include the Solon Allotment "phase two B" infrastructure improvements, comprised of a section of Linden Drive and Parkway Drive near St. Rita School. Mr. Busch said that project would complete a commitment from the city from years ago to reconstruct a list of streets in that area. The city is picking up 70 percent of the nearly $700,000 price tag for that, he said, and it applied for Ohio Public Works Commission funds.
Also to be addressed in 2012 are: polymer modified joint sealer, $200,000; Limberlost storm-sewer replacement, $300,000; and the SOM Center Road retaining wall fence, $65,000.
[ back ]
