Celina plans $1.7M in street, water line fixes

CELINA - City officials plan to spend nearly $1.7 million this year to improve deteriorating residential streets and underlying water lines.

City council members at a committee meeting this week met to learn about the upcoming work.

"This year we'll be seeing a whole lot more results," councilman Mark Fleck said about the city's revived street program. "Last year it took too long to get it initiated."

Three major projects are set for this year: residential street resurfacing, a water line replacement under East Livingston Street and West Wayne Street improvements.

City officials will "spread the projects out over the entire length of the year instead of just at the very end," safety service director Tom Hitchcock said.

Streets slated for resurfacing are Hoying Street between Deford and Mill streets, Timothy and Farmview streets from Fairground Road to their dead ends, Zillah Street from Logan Street to Market Street, Pat Drive from Fleck Avenue to the dead end and Jefferson and Jackson avenues off Meyers Road.

"They are in different areas," mayor Jeff Hazel said. "We're trying to do work in all parts in the city."

The Shelly Co. of Findlay was recently awarded a $304,429 contract to complete the work this spring, Hitchcock said. It should take about three weeks, he added.

"Some of them are getting milled an inch and a half to two inches. Some we're milling an inch and a half to four," Hitchcock said.

The water lines beneath those streets are all in good condition.

The East Livingston Street water line will be replaced between Main and Enterprise streets this summer at an estimated cost of $620,000. Officials will open bids on March 21.

Next year, city officials plan to reconstruct the street.

"It's going to take a lot of money to redo East Livingston Street," Hitchcock said. "There won't be many other things (done) besides East Livingston Street."

Also, several improvements are planned for West Wayne Street in late summer/early fall. The work is estimated at $760,000.

A water line will be replaced between Riley and North Main streets. Workers will install new fire hydrants and water services to meter pits.

New pavement is planned from Riley to Mill Street. Curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be replaced in several areas as well as storm sewers and catch basins.

Local taxpayer dollars will fund all the improvements. Most of the money will come from the 0.5-percent income tax for fire, police and streets.

City voters in November 2015 approved a ballot issue allowing funds raised by a seven-year additional income tax levy for police and fire services to also pay for street repairs.

Councilman June Scott said this year's planned projects show the city is using the income tax revenue as promised.

"That sells that half percent for us," he said.

Hazel agreed.

"We want (citizens) to know that what they voted on is going for exactly what they voted for," he said.

With new revenue rolling in, the city in 2016 set up savings accounts including one for streets, to pursue projects without adding debt.

As Hazel pointed out earlier this year, the city in 2016 completed a full reconstruction of four blocks of Brandon Avenue between Logan and Livingston streets.

A water line was replaced on Logan Street between Walnut and Portland streets. The city also resurfaced 7,680 feet of Brandon Avenue between Livingston and Hierholzer streets, Fairground Road between Touvelle and the corporation line and Wilkins Street.