Work is progressing on paving projects throughout the City of Warren.
Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz informed City Council on Monday night that the top coat was laid on Oak Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Lexington Avenue earlier in the day, bringing the paving portion of the project to completion.
All that stands in the way of wrapping up the project is some restoration work, including some back fill repairs.
Some additional un-utilized funding has also been moved from the city's 2008 federal Community Development Block Grant to cover the costs of the Oak Street project.
City Planner David Hildebrand informed council the 2008 allotment had a balance of $117,952.52 and said city staff has prepared a budget revision application to utilize the money on the Oak Street project. Hildebrand explained that the original allocation for the Oak Street project came from 2010 CDBG funds. "This is additional CDBG federal funding added to the project," he said.
Councilman Sam Harvey asked whether the 2010 account will have a similar surplus to 2008. Hildebrand said that it wouldn't but did note that the city does "need some additional funding on the (Oak Street) project and it is available to go that direction."
City Manager Nancy Freenock asked if the budget revision would "zero out" the 2008 account and Hildebrand indicated that it would.
In other road work news, Holtz also reported that all of the streets on tap for paving this year have been milled, meaning that the asphalt has been removed in advance of the paving crew.
He said paving commenced on part of the runway at Betts Park on Monday. Holtz explained that paving will continue on the west end on Tuesday and then move east across the city.
"That's come along well," he said.
The city had budgeted $403,236.76 for milling and re-paving work this year with $203, 236.76 budgeted from liquid fuels funds, $100,000 from the general fund and an additional $100,000 from a donor for the work at Betts Park.
The final cost of the work is estimated to cost the general fund $95,354.08 for approximately 17,318.89 square feet of resurfacing.
Approximately 6,631.12 square feet of planned resurfacing has been delayed until 2013 to keep costs within projected budget guidelines.