Washington Street paving to start soon

Work is about to begin on two city street projects that Greencastle residents have been anticipating for a long time.

The resurfacing of Washington Street and several other sections of road around town is scheduled to begin next week. So too is the repair of several crumbling and neglected sidewalks around town.

On Wednesday, members of the Greencastle Board of Works received information from Wabash Valley Asphalt, contracted by the city to do the work, that they will start removing old asphalt next week.

The company plans to begin milling on Fawnview and Washington streets on Monday, to be followed by Locust, College and Seminary streets possibly later in the week. Paving will follow in the days and weeks to come.

City officials hope the project will be substantially completed by the start of school in August.

The list of streets that will get repaved this summer include:

* West Seminary, from South Indiana to South Jackson Street (one block),

* Washington Street, from Bloomington Street to Wood Street,

* Fawnview Lane, from Shadowlawn Avenue to Indi-anapolis Road,

* North College Avenue, from East Franklin Street to Shadowlawn Avenue,

* South Locust Street, from Seminary Street to the end of North Locust Street.

Street Commissioner Paul Wilson said he hoped the company would repave Washington Street in time for the annual 4-H Fair Parade next month.

Meanwhile, the Board of Works approved contracts with Joe Spiker Excavating for the summer sidewalk repair project.

The city had set aside $100,000 for the project, but the bids came back at $53,000.

Mayor Nancy Michael said the extra money may mean the city can add sidewalks to its list of repairs.

"This is going to allow us some projects we hadn't anticipated," she told the board Wednesday.

Wilson added, "I think the city is going to be well off after this year. I'm very happy with it."

The list of sidewalks scheduled for repairs includes:

* Portions of Ohio and Crown streets, close to where they intersect,

* Portions of Blooming-ton and Seminary streets, close to where they intersect. Also near Cornerstone Baptist Church.

* Portion of Walnut St. beginning at 624 E. Walnut.

* Corner of Illinois and Elm streets. Also portions of Elm street from the intersection.

* Portions of East Berry Street in the area of 105 and 107 E. Berry.

* Installation of wheelchair ramps on Berry and College on the northwest and northeast corners. Also ramps at Crown and Elm streets on the northwest, northeast and southeast corners of the intersection.

* Portions of Anderson Street near 433 Anderson St.

* Portions of West Liberty Street.

* Portions of Melrose Avenue west of Casada Drive and near N. College intersection.

* Installation of wheelchair ramps on east side of North Indiana at the crosswalk and on southeast corner of Berry and South Indiana streets.

A more detailed list of sidewalks is available at the street department.

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In other business, the board:

* Learned that the city and township, along with the fire department, will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 9 to discuss purchasing a new fire truck for GFD. The group met this week, but no commitments were made.

* Approved the contract with RPI of Tipton to refurbish GFD's aerial ladder truck. The truck will be out of service beginning in mid-July and up to 180 days. During that time, the city will borrow a ladder truck from RPI.

* Approved the agreement to allow sewer and water connection between the city and the new Putnam County Emergency Operation Center, to be built next to the county highway garage on Sunset Drive west of town.

The Greencastle Board of Works meets at 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at city hall.