Cost of street reconstruction to rise due to problems found during sewer inspection

NEW BREMEN - The cost of the North Franklin Street reconstruction project is going up as a result of action taken by New Bremen village councilors Tuesday night.

Sanitary sewer replacement along a one-block stretch will add $35,752.08 bringing the total price of the project to $331,641.49. Work will commence as soon as weather permits.

According to village administrator Wayne York, potential problems were spotted during inspection of the existing sewer via television camera.

"We have not experienced problems as yet but the potential is there," York said. "It's not going to last as long as the new street so this is a good time to do the work instead of waiting until there is a problem and then digging up a new street surface."

The project involves excavation, installation of a new sewer and lateral lines and putting everything back in order before actual road construction begins.

Councilor Craig Meyer asked what could be done in regard to repairing streets in more timely fashion, noting there are numerous street projects on the list for this year and next.

"Some of the streets need to be done real soon," he said.

York said the village anticipates receipt of $250,000 in Issue I funds next year with the majority earmarked for road projects. Additionally, New Bremen has received $57,500 in permissive license fees with Auglaize County holding another $34,000 until needed.

According to York, permissive tax money may be used for streets leading out of the village although approval is at the discretion of the county engineer. The county also loans money interest free to villages for selected projects. There is a seven-year payback on the principal.

In other action, councilors:

• Approved appropriations of $19,506,866.84 for 2008 including a projected general fund of $2,869,894.39. The numbers are comparable to last year's numbers.

• Gave second reading to a resolution authorizing payment of $1,646.15 to the Auglaize County Emergency Management Agency.

• Learned money from mayor's court cases will be used to purchase new software and hardware for use by the police chief and clerk. The money has accumulated for more than a decade.

• Announced New Bremen and Wapakoneta will kick off their 175th anniversary observance at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Auglaize County Courthouse. New Bremen officials are planning a year-long observance with monthly events.

• Heard an update on the status of the village's digger truck which is sidelined with a cracked housing. Minster and other nearby communities have offered to help until the machinery is back in service.

• Re-elected Don Kuck as council president and watched as the mayor administered the oath of office to councilors Craig Hoffman and John Schwartz as well as village solicitor Steve Smith.

• Approved committee appointments for 2008 and 2009. It was decided not to establish an ambulance committee to meet periodically with New Bremen Emergency Medical Services since the safety committee can handle this.

• Authorized $500,000 in budget transfers with $325,000 going to the general fund, $125,000 to the street fund and $50,000 to the parks fund.