Proposed 2020 targets for city resurfacing listed

"East side, west side, all around the town ..."

That old song lyric is quite appropriate for the proposed 2020 targets of city street resurfacing.

With $415,000 in available funding and two potential streets covered by Community Crossings funds, the city looks to do at least nine resurfacing projects this year, Mayor Bill Dory told the Greencastle Board of Works at its recent May meeting.

Community Crossing funds are expected to be used for work on 10th Street, north of Indianapolis Road to the city limits, and for resurfacing Shadowlawn Avenue, from Arlirngton Street to College Avenue.

City funds are destined for resurfacing work along:

-- Stadium Drive off East Washington Street.

-- Half of Avenue B.

-- Kingswood Court and Queenswood Court, concrete patching.

-- Kentwood Drive off Indianapolis Road.

-- The section of Elizabeth Street left undone last year.

-- Eagle Court off Houck Road.

-- Poplar Street from Vine Street to Jackson Street.

“That’s the basic core of streets we’ll pursue,” Mayor Dory said, adding that the city may be able to add more streets “if Community Crossings will allow for general resurfacing.”

Meanwhile, Department of Public Works has been doing crack resealing work around town, Dory said.

The mayor said the crack resealing effort “protects initial investment” and can add two to three years of life to the pavement.

Some 15 street segments are being addressed around town, including Redbud Lane, Manhattan Road and Veterans Memorial Highway.

In other business, the Board of Works:

-- Agreed to apply for an Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) permit for a phosphorous removal effort and garage project at the wastewater treatment plant. A new 3,100-square-foot building would include two large bulk tanks, three maintenance bays and a 13 x 30-foot chemical storage room totally closed off to prevent any chemical vapor from getting into the rest of the building. The city is expected to go out for bids on the building in June.

Mayor Dory said it is not a significant amount of phosphorous to be added to the wastewater system daily and that Greencastle was very close to meeting the IDEM standard without the chemical addition. The low dose -- a couple of parts per million -- will be added initially at 70 gallons per day to start and then dropping to 35 gallons, Wastewater Superintendent Oscar King Jr. said.

-- Agreed to purchase a replacement respirator fit testing machine for the fire department at the suggestion of Fire Chief John Burgess. GFD has received a $3,745 grant for the SCBA equipment, which would make the final cost $4,211.53. The equipment is also made available for use by county volunteer fire departments since personnel have to be tested annually.

-- Heard Mayor Dory report that a new round of grant funding for issues directly related to COVID-19 will see $341,000 available to the city and $1.2 million available to the county.

-- Agreed to a three-year extension with Cinergy Metronet to upgrade city phones and Internet that is expected to result in a $1,500-per-month cost savings for the city. Greeencastle was the first city in which the Metronet Internet, phone and cable TV package was launched.

Mayor Dory was joined via Zoom for the May meeting by Trudy Selvia and Craig Tuggle. City Attorney Laurie Hardwick and Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar were also on hand at City Hall.

The next session of the Greencastle Board of Works is set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 at City Hall.