Ellwood City Borough Council approved 2024 paving work projects during its meeting on Monday.
Council approved a $316,235.86 bid from Wampum-based Youngblood Paving, with the amount to come from the borough’s liquid fuel fund.
Paving projects include National Way from Franklin Avenue to Hillside Avenue, Hillside Avenue from Millview Street to Summit Avenue, Oakland Avenue from Line Avenue to Hazel Avenue, Oakland Avenue from Hazel Avenue to Lee Way, 3rd Street from Franklin Avenue to Birch Way, Hillside Avenue from 4th Street to 5th Street, 11th Street from Lawrence Avenue to Beaver Avenue, Division Avenue from Perry Street to Western Street, Summit Avenue from Perry Street to Western Street, Garfield Drive from Gregg Street to McKinley Street and Wayne Avenue from 11th Street to Fairview Avenue.
There will also be fog seal work on Hillcrest Drive from Penn Avenue to the Joffre Street extension, Birch Way from 2nd Street to 4th Street, Crestview Drive to Skyline Drive, Jefferson Avenue to the Joffre Street extension, 6th Street from Wolverine Avenue to Division Avenue, Park Avenue from 6th Street to 8th Street, North Street from Line Avenue to Hazen Avenue, Union Street from Line Avenue to Orchard Avenue, Hazel Avenue from College Street to Smiley Street and Bell Avenue from 4th Street to 10th Street.
Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said PennDOT started its road reconstruction and paving for Crescent Avenue. According to PennDOT, a full closure of Crescent Avenue between Second Street and Fourth Street will occur from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through July 22.
Swogger also said the ongoing Wampum Avenue pump station project is two-thirds percent complete, the borough municipal building roof replacement project has begun and the annual borough summer playground program began Monday with 60 children.
Council approved an agreement with Ellwood City Revitalization to help develop the gravel lot located at 509/511 and 513/515 Lawrence Ave.
Swogger said he envisions little shops or an outdoor plaza in the space.
“We’re open for suggestions,” Swogger said.
Other borough council actions included:
•Approving stop signs at the intersection of First Avenue and McKinley Street westbound and the intersection of Wampum Avenue and Bridge Street eastbound and westbound.
•Purchasing a 2024 side-by-side police patrol vehicle for $23,848.46, with the cost to be split between the general fund and drug investigation fund.
•Approving the Stiefel Park access road and parking lot paving project to Protech Asphalt Maintenance for $63,339.20 using grant funding.
•Allowing Full Throttle Performance to make necessary repairs to the borough’s Dodge Ram 5500 for $11,555.70 from the general fund.
•Allowing the borough to sell its 2013 Chevy Tahoe, 1992 International 4900 and 2011 Dodge 3500 at auction.
•Approving a $140,365.70 bid from Insight Pipe Contracting to conduct six-inch and eight-inch diameter sanitary sewer line work along 4th Street, Second Street, Adams Avenue and Jefferson Avenue. It will be paid from the sewage collection fund.
•Approving electrical wire for the upcoming Ellwood City Festival at $11,801.13, to be paid from the electric fund, with the festival committee to reimburse the borough afterward.
•Allowing a Little Free Library in Ewing Park.
•Allowing Diane Daubenspeck to conduct clerical support services on a limited, as-needed basis for up to $500 a month.
•Reapproving a subdivision application for the pending Dunkin’ at Fifth Street and Spring Avenue, after developers failed to submit the first application to the county in time in May.
Mayor Anthony Court clarified rumors circulating that a man recently extradited from Ohio to Ellwood City was related to a reported theft incident, not a gun incident.
He also said police are aware of a man who walks around the 5th Ward of the borough and in Wayne Township with an AK-47 assault rifle.
Court said the police have responded to numerous calls but said the man can’t be arrested due to the state’s open carry laws.
“We’re looking at other avenues to resolve this,” Court said.
During its meeting this month, the borough zoning hearing board approved a zoning request for Abigail Higby and Austin Berezniak to run a home hair salon at 421 Smiley St.
ELLPORT MEETING OFF
DUE TO SUNSHINE LAW
Ellport Borough Council couldn’t conduct its regular monthly meeting on Monday due to the state Sunshine Law.
According to state law, the meeting agenda must be published at the meeting location and online 24 hours in advance.
The agenda was posted online Monday morning, after the 24-hour deadline. Council will push back matters on the agenda to its July 22 meeting.
NESHANNOCK AWARDS CONTRACT FOR PAVING ROADS
The Neshannock supervisors have tentatively approved a contract for the paving of seven township roads this construction season.
They awarded the work to Protech Asphalt Maintenance Inc. of New Castle for a total cost of $743,264. Protech was the lowest of the four bidders. The contract is contingent upon the township engineers reviewing the specifications.
Roads to be resurfaced as part of the project are Ciara Drive, Hidden Brook, Whitney Drive, Scott Drive, Michael Drive, Haven Point Drive and Deer Run.
(News reporter Debbie Wachter contributed to this story.)
