City sets sidewalk projects for 2021

Sidewalk superintendents will have plenty of construction work to ogle when the 2021 city sidewalk program begins in late summer or early fall.

At its recent July meeting, the Greencastle Board of Works and Safety authorized Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent Brad Phillips to go out for bids on 2,279 lineal feet of new sidewalk.

Mayor Bill Dory noted that the city has approximately $45,000 to dedicate to sidewalk work this year with most of the work being replacement. If extra funds materialize, the city will tackle new areas as well.

“We’re about caught up on all the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps we can do without moving utility poles,” Mayor Dory said, adding that he hopes sidewalk and curb work can be done in tandem where possible to maintain the proper elevation.

The mayor also noted that Redevelopment Commission funds will be utilized to continue sidewalk work along Indianapolis Road, including gaps along the north side of the street between Auto Zone and the American Legion post. Those funds also will be used for sidewalks along Avenue C and South Jackson Street.

Among the bigger sections of sidewalk included in the city’s 2021 program are:

-- Starting at the first drive approach on West Walnut Street, just west of Jackson Street on the north side of the road, 28.5 feet of sidewalk and 35 feet of driveway approach will be replaced.

-- Starting on the north side of Veterans Highway, replace 8 x 6 feet of missing curb line, then almost directly across from there on the south side, replace 36.5 feet of missing and broken curb, along with 7 feet of drainage trough on the south side.

-- From the northwest corner of Park Street and South College Avenue, replace 125 feet of sidewalk on the north side of Park Street.

-- Starting at the southeast corner of Hammond Drive and Washington Street and extending east, replace 238 feet of sidewalk along south side of street and replace ADA ramp at southeast corner.

-- Starting at the first entrance to the high school parking lot, across from Avenue F, replace 141 feet of 8-foot sidewalk.

-- Starting at the southeast corner of Seminary and Locust streets, replace 171 feet of sidewalk along the south side of Seminary.

-- Remove approximately 15 feet of curbing and install 15-foot-wide driveway approach at 602 Howard St.

-- Replace 11 driveway approaches on Anderson Street between Bloomington and Locust streets.

-- Starting next to the driveway approach at 630 Crescent Drive, extending sidewalk 119 feet along the north side of the street, skipping the next 22 feet before replacing the next 57 feet.

-- Starting in front of Black Lumber on the east side of North Indiana Street, extending north at the entry/exit to Black’s, replacing 8 feet of sidewalk, continuing north to replace the next 109.5 feet.

-- Starting after the ADA ramp on the southwest corner of Jackson and Franklin street, extending west on Franklin, replacing 72.5 feet of the 2-x-2 foot squares and replace approximately 76 feet of 2.2-foot brick pavers.

-- Starting on the south side of West Franklin after the parking lot behind the Moose Lodge, extending east to replace 25 feet of sidewalk.

-- Starting at Poplar Street, replacing the sidewalk and driveway apron at the fire station.

Meanwhile the Board of Works also encouraged DPW Superintendent Phillips to buy in bulk, suggesting he plan to purchase “up to three” new trucks for his department.

Phillips secured three bids on 3/4-ton pickup trucks designed to replace a 1996 Ford and 2004 Dodge that were hand-me-downs from the Water Department and a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado that was totaled in a June accident at Locust and Washington streets. The city received an insurance settlement of $11,000 in that mishap.

York Automotive, Greencastle, submitted the low bid of $30,741 for a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. Also bidding were Andy Mohr Ford, Plainfield, at $36,555 for a 2021 Ford, and Dodge at $40,905 for a 2022 Dodge Ram.

Not only was the York bid the lowest but delivery is expected within 8-10 weeks, while the others were four to five months out, Phillips said.

Clerk-treasurer Lynda Dunbar said she has been working on the 2022 budget, which is expected to include a new backhoe and new dump truck for the DPW. She said Phillips might be able to use CCD (Cumulative Capital Development) money on the purchases next year.

Board member Craig Tuggle made the motion to allow Phillips to purchase “up to three vehicles” at the $30,741 bid price. Mayor Dory seconded, passing it on a 2-0 vote. Board member Trudy Selvia was unavailable for the vote after initially starting the meeting via Zoom.

In other business, the board:

-- Approved a $147,566 payout for Feutz Construction for a portion of its work on the ongoing Community Crossings project along Wood and Tennessee streets.

-- Approved a $24,012 payment to Spiker Excavating for work on the new phosphorus building at the wastewater treatment plant.

-- Heard Mayor Dory report that he has received a letter from Lori Young of Curry & Associates, offering a $20,200 proposal for demolition of the old wastewater treatment plant and testing for lead paint and other chemical issues at the site. WWTP Superintendent Oscar King Jr. said once cleared, the land could be used as a dumping station for waste haulers.

The Board of Works will next meet in regular station at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 at City Hall.