Paving could start at the end of this week on the East Second Street project, Oil City manager Mark Schroyer told city council members at the panel’s meeting Thursday.
“We’re anticipating if the weather holds, potentially by the end of next week they’re going to start paving,” Schroyer said, adding that there was also a chance the paving contractor, IA Construction of Franklin, might be “putting finish topping on it as well, from Wilson (Avenue) up to Giant Eagle.”
“It’s kind of played out the way we thought,” Schroyer said. “It was gonna be a mess for a while, but ultimately it’s going to be an excellent project to the city and will make some significant improvements to that corridor, which is one of the main commercial corridors in the city.”
PennDOT will give the contractors an extension to continue working past the previous PennDOT-imposed deadline of Oct. 31, Schroyer said.
Council member Nick Moran said IA told him they could keep their asphalt plant open until at least Thanksgiving, and “we should be able to accomplish quite a bit” before then.
In a related matter, council member Mike Walentosky asked if the city could do anything to slow traffic on East Front Street approaching its intersection with East Second Street on the way to Route 257.
“They’re coming at a high rate of speed around the bend, and people are turning left,” Walentosky said, adding that he is concerned the intersection could be somewhat dangerous.
Schroyer said that adding measures such as signage would require PennDOT approval, and the city would then bear the cost of installing the signage.
Council member Ron Gustafson said that adding signage might be “safer overall” after the changes that result from the project, since the short spur of East Second Street that continued straight to join Route 62 is gone now.
And council member Dale Massie, in another road-related matter, said work on Halyday Run Road heading up to Two Mile Run County Park is almost done, and is a “huge improvement.”
In other business at Thursday’s meeting, council approved the promotions of two part-time firefighters to full-time firefighters after their six-month probationary period, and a list of three part-time firefighter candidates was also approved.
Oil City fire chief Derek Long said the two now full-time firefighters, Logan Downing and William Goodman, were both paramedics, and “this year they’ve been put to the test and have worked out pretty good.”
The three part-time candidates, who are currently waiting on physical and psychological exams after passing their written and physical agility tests, are not local to the area, Long said, but “I think all of them are interested in full-time.”
Council also heard that Oil City police officer Wesley Paxton is resigning, effective Thursday. He is taking a job with Venango County, police chief Dave Ragon said.
Asked by council about the status of any new hires in the police department, Ragon said one individual who has already applied is still interested, but he didn’t know for sure of anyone else.
Council also accepted with regret the resignation of Joe Womer Sr. as city treasurer.
Several council members expressed sadness as they accepted the resignation.
“He’s served as mayor before, and been involved with the city for many years. He’s a very good man,” Gustafson said.
Council also approved soliciting letters of interest for the treasurer position.
In other matters:
— Council approved the use of Justus Park for First Night Oil City on Dec. 31 and also the use of Town Square and King’s Park for ice sculptures.
Mayor Bill Moon said the city “listened to the community” and is bringing the midnight fireworks back this year for First Night.
— Council accepted a $15,000 grant from the Dr. & Mrs. Arthur William Phillips Charitable Trust for assistance with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources restroom rehabilitation project by the Oil City marina.
Community Development Director Kelly Ryen said the “greatly needed” grant will help the city offset its matching funds for the project, which will make the restrooms ADA-accessible.
She added that the restrooms will soon be closing down for the winter, and the project will likely be done in the spring.
— Oil Region Alliance president and CEO John Phillips told council he is currently serving as the interim director of the Oil City Main Street Program, but that a job description is being developed that will eventually be advertised for applicants.
“My staff are holding (the program) up and making sure things go smoothly while we’re in transition,” Phillips said.
Kathy Bailey, the longtime and much-loved Main Street manager, passed away in August.
— Schroyer said the city has received the cameras that will go on the West End bike trail but is still working on their installation.
“It’s going to be a bit of an undertaking,” he said. “It’s on the burner.”
— An agility agreement between the city and PennDOT was approved, which Schroyer said essentially means “We do something for PennDOT, they do something for us.”
He said the arrangement has worked well for the city in the past.
