NEW MIDDLETOWN Welker Park face-lift approved

A new stop sign is a safety matter, the police chief said.
By JOYCE O'CONNELL
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Village council awarded two contracts for work in Welker Park, but will seek new bids on two other park projects.
Pouring of a concrete slab and underground work for a pavilion will be done by Ash Brook Group of Boardman, which bid $6,500. Playground equipment will be bought from David Williams and Associates of Alliance for $29,647.
There was only one bid for paving, which was more than $20,000 higher than the engineer's estimate. The lowest bid for a pole building addition and restrooms was about $17,000 higher than estimates.
Under Ohio law any bids more than 10 percent higher than engineering estimates must be rebid, said David Bakalar of Thomas Fok and Associates. Timing may be off, especially for paving, said Bakalar, because many companies are already committed to other projects.
The building, parks and grounds committee will meet at 6 p.m. July 23 to discuss options and possibly revising the bid requirements.
What else: In other matters, a stop sign will be installed on Circleview Drive. Councilwoman Ruth Miller said neighbors had expressed their opposition to the sign and there had always been an understanding about how traffic flowed.
But Police Chief William Morvay said council should consider the safety of residents, especially children in the area, and liability issues.
Any group wishing to be a part of the Nite Out celebration and parade Aug. 7 should contact Morvay or Miller.
Clerk/Treasurer Carl Flitcraft has done a survey of street lighting needs and will submit it to Ohio Edison for a cost estimate. It will be up to council to decide which lights it wants.