Wintersville Council accepts dog park bid
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WINTERSVILLE -- A contractor has been named for a dog park to be established near the Village Building.
On Thursday, Wintersville Council accepted a bid of about $168,249 from Sweet Meadow Farm of Beloit, Ohio, for the park, which will include fencing, water fountains for the canines, ramps over which they may run and grassy areas where they may play with their owners, said Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi.
Kosegi said the goal is for the park to be completed for summer.
The village has been awarded $100,000 in State Capital Budget Funds and $10,000 from the Jefferson County Commission's recreational fund for the dog park.
It's among several improvements eyed by village officials for the Edward P. Laman Community Park, a 13-acre site that currently is occupied by playground equipment donated to the village by the Indian Creek School District as it was pursuing major renovations to its own grounds.
Mayor Mike Petrella has been working with Aaron Dodds, project manager for the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, to include a small amphitheater for the park among projects proposed for funding through the state's Appalachian Community grant program.
The Jefferson County commissioners have paired several local communities and agencies in hopes of securing a portion of $500 million to be awarded through the program throughout the state.
Acceptance of the bid, one of 11 submitted for the dog park, had been delayed while village officials resolved a question of whether a late bid in a lesser amount should be considered.
Kosegi said the late bid was submitted by a contractor who had submitted a higher bid by the deadline but found it was the result of a miscalculation.
He said it was determined the error was the contractor's alone, and recommended council accept the Sweet Meadow Farm bid, which was the lowest of those submitted and met the required bid criteria.
In other business, council heard from Brian Moffat, a Cross Creek resident who raised concerns about vehicles entering and exiting the car wash on Cadiz Road.
Moffat said while driving his child to Indian Creek High School, he's found a number of vehicles backed into the road while awaiting entry into the car wash while others have turned left from the business and into the path of approaching vehicles.
He suggested a No Left Turn sign could reduce the risk of a collision there.
Noting there have been other complaints about the situation, Petrella sought input from Village Police Chief Lou Vandeborne.
Vandeborne said when the addition of a traffic signal on a state road is sought, state law requires a study be done showing the need for it, but it's not clear if the same is needed for a traffic sign.
He said he's waiting for word from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Also on Thursday:
• Kosegi advised that as crews set about replacing interior water meters with exterior radio-read ones, water customers should ensure they can be accessed easily by the crews. He said the customers should cut away any boards covering the old meters.
The new meters are expected to cut the cost for in-person meter readings, provide more accurate data and allow customers to pay their bills online.
• Petrella announced crews with D&L Construction will be working to raise a catch basin along Main Street near Lightning Lizard Auto Sales on Monday, resulting in the street being reduced to one lane there.
He asked drivers to use caution.
The mayor added Wintersville county court has returned to the village, occupying the former Oliver Pool building on Main Street, and will begin sessions there next week.
The mayor noted the court's presence in Wintersville will generate revenue for it through the income tax paid by its staff through the Regional Income Tax Agency.
Petrella also thanked local business owner Joel John for donating the Christmas decorations he had supplied for the Village Building during the Wintersville Winter Weekend event.
• Council approved a raise for Ted Chuich to reflect his promotion as both water and sewer superintendent for the village.
• Council agreed to seek bids for a 2005 dump truck and a utility trailer being retired by the village.
• Councilman Carmen DeStefano noted a number of tree stumps have been left with the removal of dying trees at local parks and asked if new ones could be planted to improve their appearance.
Kosegi agreed to pursue that.
• It was announced council's next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Village Building.