Several Van Wert streets to be repaved

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

If all goes according to plan, a handful of Van Wert streets will be repaved this summer.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming shared the proposed list during Monday night’s Van Wert City Council meeting. It includes Jackson St., from Jefferson to Fulton; Frothingham St., from Walnut to Wayne; Fisher Ave., from Neel to Shaffer; Pratt St., from Balyeat to Webster, and Park St., from Ervin to Balyeat.

Barring an increase in the cost of asphalt, the work is expected to cost approximately $382,000.

“We originally had a goal of about $1 million but with an increase in price of asphalt being up about 40 percent now, we scaled this back and we’re trying to stay under $500,000,” Fleming explained.

First Ward Councilman Jeff Agler suggested Franklin St., from Central to Greenewald, be added to the list, a request Fleming said he would look into.

Legislation allowing Fleming to seek bids for repaving is expected to be on the next agenda. He also told council members he’s received a request for no parking on First St. between Washington and Jefferson.

“It’s too tight and we’ve taken a look at it and it would make sense to do no parking on the north side between Jefferson and Washington,” Fleming said.

An ordinance is being prepared to place no parking signs in the affected area.

Fleming noted the city’s brush pickup is scheduled for three days – May 16, June 27 and August 22. Brush should be curbside by 7 a.m. those days, but not near trees, poles or signs.

During a brief report, Mayor Ken Markward said adjustments are being made to ensure everyone can hear council members and questions from the audience during the live stream of the bi-weekly meetings.

Law Director John Hatcher told council that final changes are being made to letter that will go out to owners of blighted or abandoned properties. On a different topic, he said OVIs are trending down in Van Wert Municipal Court, but domestic violence cases are on the rise and he said the court is still dealing with junk and rubbish cases.

“We’re having some issues with a few rental properties where the landlords are leaving building materials in the yard for extended periods of time and some of the renters have been cited on that issue,” Hatcher said. “We’re trying to work through that to make sure those people are being treated fairly under the circumstances.”

Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Stacy Adam updated council members on various commercial projects, noting the MBK/Custom Assembly project in Vision Park will get underway in September and should be complete by the end of March, 2023. Unverferth Manufacturing on the Van Wert County side of Delphos is expanding and will add 20,000 square feet and will add 20 new jobs. In addition, new day care centers will soon be operating in Van Wert and Convoy.

She added she’s waiting for word on state funding to demolish the former Van Wert Inn on N. Washington St. The vacant property was recently acquired by the Land Bank.

“We are to go,” Adam said. “We have done all of the work, we have bid packets waiting, we are just waiting for notification from the state that we are able to move forward. As soon as we get that notice we will start doing that right away – sooner rather than later would be my choice.”

Adam also said CHIP (Community Housing Impact and Preservation) applications are being accepted to assist with necessary repairs and renovations for eligible low-to-moderate income households.

City Auditor Martha Balyeat informed council members that since the final 2022 budget was approved in late March, she’s received several requests for additional appropriations.

In other business, council members approved the Van Wert County mitigation plan, and they learned further discussion about property owners maintaining commercial parking lots within the city limits will take place at the next meeting.

The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 9, in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.