WINTERSVILLE - Village Administrator Walt Ziemba updated council on a number of upcoming projects during the March 17 council meeting.
The first update included new information on the village's traffic signal project. The project will entail replacing four traffic signals on Main Street from Riesbeck's to Kroger, with emergency vehicle pre-emption being added at the intersection of U.S. Route 22 and state Route 43.
Ziemba said the project includes new traffic signals, control panels, video detection, fiber optic connection, battery backup and fire and emergency vehicle pre-emption. The project will be administered and bid by the Ohio Department of Transportation in the spring and will be 100 percent grant funded, he noted.
"Myself and police Chief Ed Laman attended a pre-construction meeting two weeks ago with ODOT and the construction project manager," Ziemba said. "We are meeting again Monday to look over the signals and polls throughout the village. The polls will then be ordered and the construction team will be back sometime in June to start work. "
An updated agenda from W.E. Quicksall and Associates regarding the village's wastewater treatment plant improvements was given to each council member. The improvements to be made include fine screens; vortex grit removal system, classifier and building; new clarifier equipment; clarifier covers; UV disinfection; new aerobic digester, diffusers, blower and blower building expansion; scum pump station; new belt press and polymer feed system; and electrical system improvements.
The plan includes a preliminary design phase, geotechnical investigation and a final design phase.
"We are going to have the village crews locate and spray paint the underground plant utilities, and after that is completed we will have a surveyor come in to review," Ziemba explained. "The surveyor will give the information to W.E. Quicksall so that they can add it to their preliminary design. Quicksall will then meet with the Ohio EPA to look at the designs and make sure everything is in check. We should be able to start taking bids for the project by late October."
Ziemba then told council that he is looking to get quotes to replace two sewers in the village. One is located on Meadowbrook and the is other located off of Locust Street.
"The work is severe enough to where we need to call on outside companies to get the work done," he relayed. "We will compare quotes and go from there."
He requested a water and sewer committee and finance committee meeting to discuss funding for the sewer project. A water and sewer committee meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 7.
He added the village is eligible for Community Development Block Grant funds through the state and the village will apply for funding to create a sidewalk off of Fernwood Road.
"We are looking at constructing a sidewalk from the entrance of Meridian Green to the existing sidewalk on Fernwood," he noted. "There will be a public meeting about the project at 10:30 a.m. March 31 at the (county) commissioners' office."
He also told council to notify him is any member knows of property available for sale or lease throughout the village.
"I meet with Progress Alliance Director Ed Looman once a month to let him know that we are on board and to talk about different properties available throughout the village," he said. "He is working hard to bring a couple new businesses to the village. If anyone known of any property, let myself or Ed or Donna Hrezo at Progress Alliance know and they will be able to add the property to their Internet listing that includes a number of properties throughout the county. If a new business is coming into the county, they will be able to know of the availability through this system."
Mayor Bob Gale announced that John Mosley, a sanitation truck driver, has resigned.
"He has taken a new job and we wish him the best of luck, he said. "We will bring in one of our summer employees for the next couple of weeks so that the budget won't be hampered. We are looking at bringing in a full-time worker by May 1. We will advertise the job when the time comes."
In other business, council:
Announced the Crossroads Christian Church soccer league will start its practices on March 28 with games beginning April 30. The season will be eight weeks long.
Announced the Fort Steuben Burial Estates will hold its annual Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m. on April 17.
The next council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 7.
(Looman can be contacted at jlooman@heraldstaronline.com.)
