Repairs to sewer line along Wellesley Avenue in Steubenville nearly complete
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STEUBENVILLE -- City Engineer Mike Dolak told City Council Monday Wellesley Avenue should look better once the contractor finishes repairing the damage done by a collapsed sewage line nearly a year ago.
Several council members have been complaining about the condition and safety of the roadway, site of a 36-inch sewer line break in January. They've cited pedestrian safety, poor lighting, hillside erosion and the difficulty in two vehicles going in opposite directions pass each other admits hillside erosion.
Dolak figures council will be a lot happier when the pavement that was disturbed during the line repair is itself repaired.
"Chuck (Utilities Director Chuck Murphy) had the big sewer job there and it never got properly fixed," Dolak said. "Now it's going to get properly fixed and I believe it's going to look a lot better, I believe they're going to be happy with the repair."
Dolak said the entire road will not be repaved, "but when he's done it's going to be a big improvement, it's going to look a lot better. Then we'll stripe the road and install a little asphalt curbing to help with some drainage issues."
City Manager Jim Mavromatis pointed out how expensive a full-fix would be: In 2022, Mavromatis said they got an estimate of nearly $600,000 for resurfacing, replacing the curbs, installing sidewalks and other necessary work.
"That's got to be programmed in, we've got to figure out first where all the money is coming in, design it," Dolak said. "And there's a slope to deal with, that could mean a retaining wall and a right of way. If you go that route the project gets more expensive and more complex, rather than just resurfacing the road."
Murphy said the contractor expects to be done with the pavement repairs by Tuesday.
Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn pointed out there's a lot of broken curbing, particularly at the top of Wellesley.
"I don't know if their equipment disturbed the curbing or someone else did, but there is so much of it that's been broken," she said. "If you look, with the rain it's washing it out, and it's right on the edge of that precipice. So what can we do, if council isn't going to be able to (fix) it properly for a couple of years, we could get in a crisis over that. So what are we able to do?"
"I can tell you it wasn't caused by the contractor," Murphy said, with Dolak pointing out the curb was installed years ago, long before he was hired, "and it wasn't installed properly. It was just installed right on the pavement not put into the ground, so when cars hit it or plows hit it, it crumbles."
Dolak suggested having Public Works crews "get some asphalt and built an asphalt curb, that's a way to solve that situation."
Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon also pointed out the road sees heavy pedestrian traffic, which, with the poor lighting, poses a particular risk after dark.
"When we start talking about new street lights and new roads, come up to Highland Avenue," he suggested, telling council "there's no sidewalk, the lights are out, the road's damaged."
"All this has to be done in due time," he said. "We have a whole city that has the same problems, we have to prioritize what we're going to do next."
Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover agreed that solutions won't happen overnight, "but we do need to bring them to council and address them."
"I'm not here (lobbying) for sidewalks and lighting," she said. "(But) with the erosion of the hillside we're going to have a collapsed road eventually."
Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo replied that he's not opposed to fixing Wellesley, "but before you worry about that little section of Wellesley you need to look at the entirety of the North End and people there who have no way to get to a grocery store."
Council, meanwhile, heard second reading of an ordinance declaring structures at 422 Clinton St., 1021-23 McKinley Avenue, 409-415 Clinton Street, 1311 Belleview Blvd., 332 Summit Ave., 1303 Ridge Ave., and a garage at 1244 Pennsylvania Ave. unsafe and order their demolition, but at Hahn's request moved two other properties -- 612 Ross Street and 910 Sherman Avenue -- to the top of the list.
Hahn said the change will clear the properties for redevelopment if the city were to be selected for a $30 million-plus Choice Neighborhood implantation grant.
Also receiving its second reading was an ordinance authorizing transfer of a property at 913 N. Fifth Street to Steubenville City Schools so it can be turned into a community garden and outdoor learning center, another piece of the city's Choice Neighborhoods grant strategy.
First readings were given of ordinances authorizing expenditure of $275,000 for repairs and upgrades to city ball fields and batting cages and $400,000 for repair of the Beatty Park Bridge. Those measures had been tabled for the past year but were brought back to council floor so they could be disposed of. The ballfields have already been upgraded and the city already allocated funds for the bridge project, so council will have to rethink both projects before doing anything.
Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul asked city officials to draft a resolution honoring Seaman 2nd Class Stanley Casmier Galaszewski, who was killed in action in 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Galaszewski, 29, served on the USS California and while presumed dead, his remains were only recently identified through DNA analysis.
Galaszewski was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery on Friday with full military honors.
Paul also asked that a military banner be erected in Galaszewski's honor.
Mayor Jerry Barilla, who attended the funeral with Mavromatis, said it was "a moving moment, I was so honored to be a citizen of this city and this country. It was a proud moment in Steubenville, in my view, to be part of that moment."
Paul also sunshined an ordinance awarding the CS03 line replacement Phase 2 to Midwest Mole Inc., and advised council that city crews hope to begin leaf collections this week, starting in the West End and working their way east.
He also requested a resolution honoring Big Red Football Coach Reno Saccoccia, who will be among those enshrined in the 2024 class of the National High School Football Hall of Fame.
Barilla also presented Hahn with a token honoring her efforts over the past years to serve "all of Steubenville,"
"Councilwoman at large fits you perfectly because you are a councilwoman for all," Barilla said, pointing out Hahn has tackled projects throughout the city including North End ballfield mulch and Belleview Park.
"You've been committed to this community for eight years," he said.