Findlay lining up projects for 2025

Findlay may enter the new year with a list of projects already in the queue. City council has been asked to approve about $350,000 in a sixth round of capital improvement spending for the year, however, construction on the projects will be in 2025. The legislation, which was introduced earlier this month, will be up for a second reading at Tuesday's regular meeting of council. Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@findlayohio4234. The appropriations include $160,000 from the city's capital improvement fund. A total of $80,000 would be spent to upgrade the existing traffic signal at the intersection of South Main Street and Front Street. City Engineer Jeremy Kalb said the money will be used to purchase the equipment and contract for the foundation and conduit work. He said the construction will most likely be in the spring. Another $80,000 would be spent on right-of-way acquisition and plans for the third phase of the HAN-Greenway Trail. The project will extend the multiuse path at Hancock County Road 236 to the covered bridge on Marion Township Road 241. A transportation alternative plan grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation is funding 95% of the construction cost. Kalb said the project will be bid in the spring, with construction also expected next year. A total of $110,000 would be appropriated from the city's water fund. A total of $50,000 would be spent to begin survey and design work for the planned replacement of a waterline on North Main Street, from Hancock County Road 99 to Hillshafer Drive. Construction will most likely be in 2025, Kalb said. Another $60,000 from the water fund would pay for in-house design work and the installation of a new six-inch waterline on East Street, from Lincoln Street to Lima Street. City crews would install the line. Depending on the weather, Kalb said the East Street waterline project could begin early next year. Council is also being asked to appropriate $80,000 from the city's sewer fund. A total of $40,000 would be spent toward the replacement of a sanitary sewer on West Lima Street, near South West Street. Kalb said televising of the line found some areas with low spots or "bellies" that could create a catch point for solids to collect and block the line. The appropriation is needed for survey and design work to prepare the project for bid. A total of $40,000 is also needed for survey and design work for the replacement of a sanitary sewer on Hurd Avenue, from Lincoln Street to Putnam Street. Kalb said sections of the sewer are cracked and broken.