New Bremen street rehab plan advances

NEW BREMEN - Village officials are proceeding with plans for the Front Street reconstruction project.

Village council members on Monday had second reading of a resolution to hire Access Engineering Solutions of Celina. The engineering firm will help the village complete the first stage of an Ohio Public Works Commission funding application for the project.

Access Engineering president Brice Schmitmeyer explained the proposed project will go into a state competition. The village can apply for up to $500,000 in grant money and about $500,000 in no-interest loan money, Schmitmeyer explained.

"But that's going to vary on project size and how much contribution the village puts in there," he said.

The application is due in October and the village would have an answer by May. If the application is successful, the funds will be available in July 2017 and construction would need to begin by July 2018.  

The village gets extra points if it contributes funds. It also receives credit if officials begin design before the grant is awarded.

"We would likely begin design earlier on to help score more points in the actual application, to make it a more competitive application at the state level," Schmitmeyer said.

Mayor Jeff Pape said at its upper end, the project is estimated to cost $2 million. With the $500,000 grant, the village could end up paying $1.5 million. He said that was the most officials were willing to spend.

"That might get pared down to what we feel we can spend," he said.

Officials are looking at reconstructing Front Street and possibly some side streets, such as Eastmoor Drive. The project would be a total rebuild, Schmitmeyer said, including complete roadway reconstruction and replacing water, sanitary and sewer lines.

Schmitmeyer's quote for his company's engineering services during the initial application phase was less than $5,000, officials said.

Council members also,

• received visitors Amy Niekamp, Jack Niekamp, Kathy Pape, Alayna Pape and Gracie Pape. On behalf of their vacation Bible school, the children presented a craft to police chief Mike Skinner, thanking him and his officers for their service to the community. They also delivered letters of thanks from children.

Skinner thanked them for the thoughtful gesture.

"We couldn't ask for a better community to serve," he said before shaking their hands.

• approved by emergency measure seeking bids for the Bunker Hill Industrial Park Komminsk Drive construction. A completion date was set for October.

Some council members expressed concern that it was too little time, but village administrator Chris Dicke, who is taking over for outgoing village administrator Wayne York, said she thought it was doable, adding the roughly 600-foot road construction could go past that deadline if the chosen construction company has a legitimate excuse.

• discussed modifying the library's rent, which is currently $400 per month. Pape said the topic hasn't been discussed recently and in that time, the building has been improved. However, the building may also need roof repairs and new carpet and council members decided to seek quotes for those projects before discussing it further.

• approved by emergency measure a contract with Beth Nybeck for sculptures for Komminsk Legacy Park.

• thanked York for his service as village administrator, with Dicke adding her thanks for York's assistance the past few months. York's last day in office was July 22, with unused vacation time making his official retirement date Aug. 5.

• heard Pape thank Justin Luedeke, a New Bremen graduate, for creating and donating an aerial video of the downtown area and village parks. Residents can view it on YouTube by searching "New Bremen aerial."

• learned from Dicke the pool will close one day early on Aug. 22.

• thanked the New Bremen Fire Department for another successful picnic.